--The Redskins are thin at DE with Chris Wilson (calf), Erasmus James (knee) and rookie J.T. Mapu (knee). The only healthy ends are starters Jason Taylor and Andre Carter, veteran backup Demetric Evans, journeyman Kevin Huntley and rookie Rob Jackson.

--With Pro Bowl LT Chris Samuels not taking contact as he recovers from elbow surgery in June, second-year man Stephon Heyer has been working with the starters.

--The opening week of practice marked the first contact for RT Jon Jansen since he broke his right leg and severely dislocated his right ankle in the 2007 opener against Miami.

--The Redskins released rookie free agent DE J.T. Mapu (knee) on Sunday, just six days after they re-signed him following a season-ending injury to DE Alex Buzbee. The Redskins also cut G Kerry Brown (sprained shoulder). Washington signed DT Zarnell Fitch, who was on Baltimore's roster in 2007, and G Fred Matua, who was on Cleveland's roster in 2006.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: There's truly not a starting spot up for grabs (Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers -- when healthy -- figure to all play extensively at cornerback). Given that, the biggest competition is probably at safety, where Reed Doughty became a starter by default last November when Sean Taylor was hurt and then shot to death.

Washington signed former Oakland starter Stuart Schweigert in June, but since Schweigert is more comfortable at free safety, where the Redskins want to keep LaRon Landry, the sixth pick in the 2007 draft, 2006 sixth-rounder Doughty will probably hang on at strong safety.

"I feel every camp is a position battle," Doughty said. "I don't necessarily think it's between any two people. I just think whoever plays the best in general is going to play in the games and that's my goal, to play the best in every situation we get."

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Sixth-rounder Durant Brooks, the first punter Washington has drafted in 15 years, is favored to beat out incumbent Derrick Frost, but special teams coach Danny Smith said the battle won't truly begin until preseason gets under way on Aug. 3.

--With RDT Anthony Montgomery out 10 days with a broken right hand and veteran LDT Cornelius Griffin's left shoulder acting up, 2006 starting RDT Kedric Golston has a shot to make a move for even more playing time this year than he had in 2007.

--With Shawn Springs seeing some time at safety and Carlos Rogers yet to take contact, youngsters Leigh Torrence, J.T. Tyron, Byron Westbrook and Cedrick Holt are getting extra reps at CB, where only Fred Smoot is established and playing there full time.

--With rookie WRs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly sidelined, Billy McMullen, Anthony Mix, Maurice Mann, Burl Toler and rookie FA Horace Gant are seeing extra time behind the veteran trio of Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El and James Thrash. However, Mix aggravated his own hamstring in the Saturday scrimmage,

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR Antwaan Randle El -- Randle El missed most of June's organized team activities after having a knee scoped, but the soon-to-be 29-year-old looked better than ever during the first week of camp.

"Antwaan had his knee surgery the same time everyone else did and he hasn't skipped a beat," coach Jim Zorn said of Randle El, who set career highs of 51 catches and 728 yards last season.

Randle El led all players with four catches for 52 yards in the Saturday scrimmage.

ROOKIE REPORT: Second-round WR Devin Thomas pulled a hamstring on July 24 and will miss 10-14 days. ... Second-round TE Fred Davis has had some drops in practice but at least he hasn't overslept. ... Second-round WR Malcolm Kelly slightly pulled a hamstring on July 25 and is day-to-day. ... Third-round OL Chad Rinehart has been working behind starting LG Pete Kendall. ... Fourth-round CB J.T. Tryon had a good first week, showing why he'll push Leigh Torrence to be the fourth corner this season. ...

Sixth-round P Durant Brooks is battling incumbent Derrick Frost for the job. ... Sixth-round QB Colt Brennan had an uneven first week. He needs plenty of work on his mechanics. ... Sixth-round S Kareem Moore missed the spring following knee surgery and returned for the first two days of camp, only to be sidelined again when the knee became swollen. ... Seventh-round DE Rob Jackson has seen extra snaps following an injury to holdover DE Chris Wilson. ... Seventh-round S Chris Horton has flashed the hitting ability that made him a starter at UCLA.

INJURY REPORT: DT Anthony Montgomery broke his right hand in the Saturday scrimmage. He'll have surgery on July 28 and miss 10 days.

LB Rian Wallace broke his right hand in the scrimmage. He'll have surgery on July 28 and miss 10 days.

RB Eric Shelton is day-to-day after suffering a shoulder stinger in the scrimmage.

WR Anthony Mix is day-to-day after aggravating a hamstring in the Saturday scrimmage.

WR Devin Thomas pulled a hamstring on July 24 and will miss 10-14 days.

FS LaRon Landry slightly pulled a hamstring on July 25 and is day-to-day.

WR Malcolm Kelly slightly pulled a hamstring on July 25 and is day-to-day.

S Kareem Moore has been sidelined since July 22 with swelling in a knee.

DE Chris Wilson strained a calf muscle on July 24 and is day-to-day.

DE Erasmus James has yet to practice as he recovers from reconstructive knee surgery.

CB Carlos Rogers has yet to take contact as he recovers from reconstructive knee surgery.

OT Chris Samuels has yet to take contact as he recovers from elbow surgery.

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