The left tackle position for the Washington Redskins has been a point of contention so far this season.
Pro-Bowl LT Trent Williams is holding out, veteran Donald Penn has not yet played up to replacement levels, and second-year Geron Christian has struggled to acclimate to the league thus far. Through two weeks of the preseason, the lack of talent on the front line has been highlighted, while both Penn and Christian’s struggles are magnified.
Christian was drafted in 2018 with hopes of being developed into a flexible offensive lineman, able to play from both the right and left sides. An ankle injury limited his ability to get the necessary reps in OTAs and minicamp, and his introduction to the league has at times been frustrating.
According to The Athletic’s Mark Bullock:
It’s far from an ideal circumstance for the Redskins, and against the Bengals in their second preseason game, it almost looked like the worst-case scenario. Having missed so much time, Christian hasn’t had much of an opportunity to play alongside new left guard Ereck Flowers and develop much chemistry yet, which is a considerable part of offensive line play.
As long as Williams continues to hold out — and there has been no progression on that front, as far as we know — the Redskins will struggle at left tackle. Christian is not ready to be a starter in the NFL, and until he can get more practice reps under his belt, there will be a growing period that is riddled with shortcomings. Film breakdowns will show that it is all fixable with time, but the Redskins just may not have the patience to wait.
