Observations from Thursday’s practice session

But first, here are some observations from today’s practice:

Running back Roy Helu Jr. participated without limitation after spending the previous two weeks of practice, and the rest of the offseason, rehabbing from toe and Achilles’ tendon injuries. Helu returned to full action on Monday, and reported no setbacks. He suffered the initial injury in Washington’s season opener, and hadn’t been healthy since. He said he forgot how good it felt to be fully healthy. Helu showed good speed and explosion during the full-squad, non-contact practice. Coach Mike Shanahan said 5-foot-11, 215-pound Helu’s size and speed will be an asset to Washington’s offense if he is able to remain healthy.
Also returning to action this week: cornerback Chase Minnifield. The University of Virginia product missed all of last season after having knee surgery, and he too had spent the previous weeks rehabbing. He practiced fully on Wednesday, and out of precaution on Thursday was permitted only to do positional drills. Minnifield said he felt good a day after a full practice however. He’s competing with Richard Crawford, E.J. Biggers, David Amerson and Jerome Murphy for a spot as a backup corner.
Guard/tackle Maurice Hurt was seen leaving the facility on crutches. He had arthroscopic surgery on his knee last week.
Guard Josh LeRibeus (left hamstring) continued to train on the side as he has the other two weeks of offseason practices. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon (shoulder), tight end Fred Davis (Achilles’ tendon), running back Chris Thompson (knee), offensive lineman Jacolby Ashworth (wrist/hand), Josh Wilson (shoulder), Keenan Robinson (pectoral muscle), safeties Brandon Meriweather and Jordan Bernstine (both with knee rehabs) continued working on the side.
Backup tight end DeAngelo Peterson broke his right foot Wednesday.
Fullback Darrel Young was back on the practice field. Shanahan said on Monday that Young hadn’t practiced. The fullback said on Thursday that he woke up with some swelling and soreness in his toe, and so he sat out of precaution and didn’t have any lingering symptoms.
Shanahan said that Davis probably could practice next week, but that he wants to hold him out as a precaution. If the Redskins were playing next week, the coach said, the tight end would likely practice.
Safety Jordan Pugh remains sidelined by a bad ear infection. He remains at his home in Texas. Shanahan said doctors won’t permit him to travel.
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is working on improving in pass coverage and made a play early in Thursday’s practice. Trailing tight end Niles Paul on a route up the sideline, Kerrigan stuck a hand in and broke up a Kirk Cousins pass.
DeJon Gomes and Reed Doughty remained the first-team strong and free safeties, with rookies Phillip Thomas (strong) and Bacarri Rambo (free) working as the backups.
Crawford started the 11-on-11 portion of practice at right corner with Wilson rehabbing. Biggers worked in the slot while DeAngelo Hall manned his normal left cornerback spot.
Inside linebacker Perry Riley had a lapse in pass coverage in the red zone. He was supposed to have picked up tight end Logan Paulsen, but Paulsen made a wide-open catch in the flat and trotted into the end zone. “Y’all gonna play defense?” Garcon yelled out with a laugh.
Cousins displayed good touch on a number of red zone passes, including scoring strikes to tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi, Paul and Josh Morgan.
Cousins did throw a goal line interception to Gomes, going for Morgan. Gomes made a juggling catch, then took off upfield.
Amerson may have had an interception in the end zone on an overthrow, but Paul grabbed his jersey to keep him from getting to the back corner, where the ball fell.
The Paul-Rambo matchup could be interesting to watch as the heat of training camp sets in. Paul and Rambo had a scuffle at the end of a play at one point in practice, and Paul knocked Rambo’s helmet off. Rambo barked at Paul, who jawed back before teammates separated them. Later in practice, Rex Grossman fired a pass to Paul in the end zone. The tight end had to go up to get it, but pulled it in just before Rambo came down hard on him over the top. Paul hung on for the catch, but Rambo stood over him briefly before walking off.
London Fletcher looked like he was in mid-season form as he made a diving catch on a would-be screen pass from Cousins.

Have a Redskins question? E-mail Mike Jones at mike.jones@washpost.com with the subject line “Mailbag question” for him to answer it in The Mailbag.

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