Jay Gruden encouraged by Josh Doctson’s progress, says WR has ‘long way to go’ – ESPN (blog)

Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden sounded hip -- or at least with it -- for a second.

Receiver Josh Doctson posted video of himself on Snapchat recently performing agility drills and catching passes. It was a good step for a player coming off a frustrating Achilles injury.

Now we see him doing things on Snapchat, Gruden told reporters at the scouting combine. Heck, I follow him.

Gruden saw it on Snapchat? Shows over, folks.

I dont even know what that is, Gruden admitted. But its good to see him out there running, doing football drills. Josh is really working hard, man. Thats half the battle. We fully anticipate him being healthy.

If youre possibly going to lose your top two receivers, you need the guy you drafted in the first round to be ready to step up. The Redskins still havent contacted Pierre Garcon to discuss a new contract, and the whispers surrounding DeSean Jackson link him more with Tampa Bay than the Redskins. But until they sign elsewhere, the Redskins could always swoop in with a last-minute generous offer. Barring that, the Redskins will need more from their current group of receivers -- especially Doctson, who was limited to two catches in two games his rookie season.

Thats why his progress this offseason is encouraging. If and when he's healthy, Doctson, who showed an ability in college to track the ball well down the field, would provide the Redskins a good-sized target at 6-foot-2.

His inability to return does not stem from a lack of love for the game, multiple sources have said throughout the last six months. Rather, the injury issue simply wouldnt go away without extended rest. As it continued, Doctson went from having a problem in just his right foot to both feet.

Those from him his past likely would remind anyone that this is the same kid who went from lightly recruited out of high school to Wyoming to TCU walk-on to a first-round pick. Thats part of what attracted the Redskins to him in the first place.

And they viewed him as a top-10 pick -- and the only receiver who would tempt them in the first round last April. After his early workouts with the team, mostly while facing rookies, the coaches were ecstatic. Then the injury occurred May 25 and Doctson was never a factor the rest of the year.

He will have a major impact on this offense once we get him healthy, Gruden said. Thats the biggest thing for him: Can you take the strides necessary to get healthy? We see him in the weight room all the time, working hard. Theyll get him right. Hell get himself right.

But Gruden knows that Doctson must show he can do these drills for an extended period without having the issue return. Both want the cross-your-finger optimism in March to translate into no worries by July. Thats when theyll know Doctson has escaped his issues.

Theres still a long way to go, Gruden said.

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Jay Gruden encouraged by Josh Doctson's progress, says WR has 'long way to go' - ESPN (blog)