RICHMOND Montez Sweat Jersey , Va. (AP)Jordan Reed has two fewer bones and a whole lot of peace of mind.Toe soreness in offseason workouts more than a year ago became lingering pain that threw off everything for the Washington Redskins tight end. Overcompensation led to a hamstring injury that kept Reed off the field, and he never felt like himself even when he was able to play.So Reed went under the knife twice to have a sesamoid bone in each big toe removed. Reed now feels ”100 times better” and hopes his toe injuries are a thing of the past so he can get back to his form of 2015, when he had 87 catches for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns.”It’s definitely a relief,” Reed said Friday. ”Just having that nagging pain for two years was awful and now it’s gone, so it’s just a lot better.”Reed said toe fractures gave him little choice but to have the surgeries, one on his left foot in December and the other on the right in February. They’ve so far worked out far better than his decision to get a stem-cell injection in the summer of 2017 that aggravated his toe problem so much he couldn’t walk.That self-described ”poor decision” completely derailed Reed’s season, limiting him to 27 catches in six games. He tried orthotics in his shoes to ease the pain, but nothing worked, leading to an operation that’s more common for dancers and exceedingly rare for the general public.”That’s usually kind of like the last stop on the train,” said Mark Drakos, a foot and ankle surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. ”They’re very little bones. They’re about the size of like a Peanut M&M, so they’re very, very small. Most bones, if they break or they don’t heal, we’ll go in and fix them with plates and screws of if you break your ankle, we put it back together. These are so small that a lot of times we just take it out because it’s quicker. It’s a quicker recovery.”Reed is well past the usual eight-to-12-week recovery period and has looked sharp in individual and team drills early in camp. Just having him on the field again is a plus for the Redskins, who need the 28-year-old to create matchup problems for opposing defenses.”He is a unique guy at the tight end position that can do so many things: route-running with the ball in his hands after the catch,” new quarterback Alex Smith said. ”He is oftentimes the guy that it doesn’t really matter who’s lined up against him – linebacker, safety Dwayne Haskins Redskins Jersey , corner. He is a guy that I think has the skill set to win against all these positions.”Coach Jay Gruden, who early in camp a year ago didn’t think Reed’s toe injury would be a long-term concern, is hopeful now because, as he put it, ”I have to be.””I think he’s one of the top tight ends in the National Football League when healthy,” Gruden said. ”Last year, he tried to fight through a couple of those injuries in the offseason. He got them fixed, so hopefully we’ll put an end to all those foot and toe injury things and ankle. Jordan, he feels great right now, very optimistic about the way his body feels and now it’s our job to make sure we just progress him along at a good rate.”Gruden hopes to get Reed into a preseason game or two and have him 100 percent for the season opener against Arizona. On a team with a handful of players working back from injuries, Reed is taking a conservative approach as he balances restraint with the excitement of what he could do when finally healthy again.”Still working through that with the coaches and taking it slow,” he said. ”I’m just getting my body built back up. … I’m confident moving forward.”NOTES: Second-year LB Ryan Anderson left practice with back spasms and he’s considered day-to-day. A team spokesman said RB Rob Kelley’s departure was heat-related. … LB Zach Brown was a limited participant in team drills a day after straining the quadriceps muscle in his left thigh. … The team’s afternoon walkthrough was cut short by lightning. Unlike their regular practice facility in Ashburn, Virginia, outside Washington, the Redskins do not have an indoor bubble at their Richmond site.— As every day passes, it’s looking more and more like Jay Gruden will remain as head coach of the Redskins for 2019. What changes are made to his staff are still up in the air, however. One thing is for certain; the Redskins need help on both side of the football this off-season. With salary cap room projected to be pretty low, the team will likely have to count on their draft picks to play major roles in 2019...and beyond. Gruden, in a recent article by ESPN’s John Keim https://www.theredskinslockerroom.com/authentic-dwayne-haskins-jersey , was quoted in saying the following:So let’s break this down...As Gruden eluded to, and many feel the same way, one of the strengths of this team is the offensive and defensive lines. When healthy, these units can compete with anyone. We do need to find a starting left guard, but we can do so with a mid-round pick or a free agent signing. Before the injuries started piling up, this team was 6-3, and heading towards double-digit wins. The loss of Alex Smith deflated the team, and Jay mentioned that quarterback, going forward, is a bit scary. No one knows what Smith’s future holds - apparently not even the head coach, and I assume by Gruden’s comments that the team is not comfortable going into the season with Colt McCoy as the starter for any significant length of time.The other comment that also stood out is the need for “playmakers” on offense. I think every Redskins fan can agree that this team lacked a dynamic, go-to playmaker. Jay has said before that his offense runs through tight end Jordan Reed, but his availability is, and has always been, a major concern. The lack of offensive playmakers on this team was alarming, and needs to be addressed this off-season.Getting back a healthy Darrius Guice will be a big boost to an anemic offense. He has the ability to grind out yards between the tackles, but he can also turn the corner and take it to the house. He’s an under-rated receiver out of the backfield as well, and should excel in the Redskins screen game, and provide mismatches against opposing linebackers in the open field. Where the team really needs help is at wide receiver. Paul Richardson was brought in to give the unit a much-needed deep threat Womens Dwayne Haskins Jersey , but injuries once again stole part of his season. Jamison Crowder is a free agent, and it’s looking more and more like he’ll be able to test the market, and land himself a big contact somewhere other than Washington. Josh Doctson is a bust. Argue all you want, but it’s true. 2019 should be his last season in Burgundy and Gold, and that’s only because he’s still under an affordable rookie contract. He should be no better than a 3rd or 4th option next season. The rest of the unit is comprised of all un-proven players. The draft offers some very interesting receiver prospects, especially in round two. The Redskins would be wise to sign a veteran free agent, and look to the second round to find a true playmaker they can develop on the outside. The “playmakers on offense” comment can also be aimed at quarterback. With the uncertainty surrounding a return by Alex Smith, the team may be in need of a new signal caller. The draft is not very strong at the position this year, but Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, Duke’s Daniel Jones and Missouri’s Drew Lock are all expected to go in the first round. The Jaguars and Giants are two teams who may be looking to draft a quarterback this season, so it’s possible one of these signal callers could fall to pick number 15. Should that happen, and even if Alex Smith does end up returning, the Redskins could be tempted to jump at their next potential franchise quarterback. end class. The Redskins always have uncertainty surrounding Jordan Reed, and it’s very unlikely Vernon Davis returns next season. The roster is void of young, healthy playmakers at the position, and this could be the year to improve that talent with a higher draft pick - maybe one in the second or third round. If Gruden’s comments hold true this off-season, I expect to see a lot of focus on improving an anemic offense by adding a few playmakers to his favorite side of the football. 2019 NFL Draft Scenario #1:Rd 1:Drew LockQBMissouriRd 2:Paris CampbellWROhio St.Rd 3:T.J. HockensonTEIowaRd 3:Ryan BatesOGPSU2019 NFL Draft Scenario #2:Rd 1:Jachai PoliteEDGEFloridaRd 2:Irv Smith Jr.TEAlabamaRd 3:Lil’ Jordan HumphreyWRTexasRd 3:Chris LindstromOGB.C.*Rd 5:Brett RypienQBBiose St.