They're Still Catching Up

Kelly, initially slowed in camp because of a hamstring injury, underwent arthroscopic surgery Aug. 4 on his left knee and missed the preseason. Kelly was supposed to make his pro debut last Thursday in Washington's final preseason game, but his knee became swollen in pregame warmups.

Because of Kelly's situation, the Redskins strongly considered carrying six wide receivers on the roster set Saturday, Zorn said, especially considering the strong performance of Billy McMullen, who led the team in receiving in the preseason and was among the players coaches often praised. "It was a matter of making a very difficult decision," Zorn said. "It wasn't necessarily a numbers game. It was a tough decision of keeping one guy over another."

Said Campbell: "With Malcolm, we're not sure about everything that's going on. With Devin, we're constantly bringing him along."

Bubba Tyer, Washington's director of sports medicine, and the medical staff have continued to work with Kelly, but Zorn acknowledged Kelly probably would have to "play with some pain" this season. For his part, Kelly is confident he can succeed in the NFL "because football is football," he said. "That's one thing a lot of the veteran guys keep telling me. Just because this is the NFL, you can't start putting pressure on yourself. If you can play, you can play. I've just got to get my knee right."

Moss has become a mentor for Kelly. He has initiated conversations about a variety of topics with Kelly -- life off the field included.

"Me and Malcolm talk a lot more than probably me and Devin," Moss said. "I don't even let Malcolm ask me a question. I tell him stuff before he even asks me. I think of something, or see him, or see what's going on with him, and I just go out and say: 'Hey, do this. Or start doing this. Or try to be better at this.' They need that."

Thomas has appeared overwhelmed by his new surroundings. Drafted from Michigan State, Thomas, who also missed time because of a hamstring injury, ran wrong routes, appeared tentative on kickoff returns and often was out of position in three preseason games.

"One guy can't get on the field, and the other guy, he's not ready yet," said offensive coordinator Sherman Smith, alluding to Kelly and Thomas. "We need guys, particularly the backups, to understand that they have to show up to play every week."

Hoping to make up ground quickly, Thomas recently changed his study habits, "doing extra film, taking the DVDs home and watching them," Thomas said. "I'm really looking at my playbook, so I know what I'm doing when it comes to game day so I can run full speed and know what I'm doing."

Despite slow starts to their NFL careers, Thomas and Kelly possess the talent to become productive wide receivers, the Redskins said, but they have no more time to waste.

"This pays the bills. If you don't have that down, you'll be out of here quick," Randle El said. "Those are two things I always tell them will keep them from playing: being out of shape and not knowing that playbook. You can have all the talent in the world, a lot of guys up here had talent, but that's the thing that gets them out."

Staff writer Jason La Canfora contributed to this report.