The Washington Redskins tried out five players earlier this week as they were looking to add some depth to their practice squad. The team decided to sign one of those players as they offered a practice squad contract to offensive guard Alex Balducci. Balducci's official position with the Redskins will be at center.

Redskins were looking for depth in case injury strikes

Some may view Balducci's signing as a non-news item or just a plain routine signing to keep someone fresh on the list.

But in all honesty, this move could be a significant pickup when you take into account that if center Spencer Long were to get injured, the Redskins have only a rookie to back him up at the position in Chase Roullier, and no one else on the roster that plays the position. In a tight spot, Balducci could find himself cast into an important role. Hopefully, the team will never have to put things to the test by seeing what the practice squad signee has this season.

Balducci played defensive lineman while in college at the University of Oregon, serving as a nose tackle for the Ducks from 2012 to 2015. He spent time on San Francisco's practice squad in 2016 and was with the New York Jets earlier this year in training camp.

At 6-foot-3 and 308 pounds, Balducci takes up a lot of space but is raw at the position after just moving there a few months ago.

Redskins brought in five players total

The Redskins brought in five players to try out for the team. Something Washington does frequently during the season as they are always looking to improve the roster.

Working out for the Redskins on Monday were running back Travaris Cadet from Appalachian State, running back Jonathan Grimes from William and Mary college, running back Daryl Richardson from Abilene Christian, offensive guard Greg Pyke from the University of Georgia, and of course, Balducci.

Washington is looking to bounce back from an opening day loss at home to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Redskins lost the game 30-17, but the final score is not indicative of how close the game actually was. The team struggled to run the ball as the top two rushers for Washington were Robert Kelley and Kirk Cousins, both of whom were able to accrue 30 yards rushing on the afternoon. The Redskins had won the previous five matchups against the Eagles, one of their oldest and most despised rivals.

Oddly enough the opening week loss is the fourth in a row for the franchise in week one as Jay Gruden has never won a game as a head coach that has fallen first on the team's schedule (Texans in 2014, Dolphins in 2015, Steelers in 2016, and now Eagles in 2017). In all of those seasons, the team came out with a vengeance and won in week two though.

Washington will travel to California to take on the Rams this weekend.

Below is a video of Gruden's press conference Thursday afternoon.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED