Ben Raby, wtop.com
ORCHARD PARK, NY – Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III is ready to make his NFL preseason debut Thursday evening as the Washington Redskins face the Buffalo Bills in Western New York.
Griffin III is expected to take anywhere from 12-20 snaps with Washington’s starting offense, which tonight will include a number of projected backups.
The Redskins will be without three of their five starting offensive linemen as left guard Kory Lichtensteiger (knee); right tackle Jamaal Brown (hip) and right guard Chris Chester (ankle) remain sidelined.
In their place, Maurice Hurt, Tyler Polumbus and Adam Gettis are expected to start on the offensive line, along with regular starters Trent Williams and Will Montgomery.
Washington’s banged-up offensive line could pose a few challenges for Griffin III who will be facing two of the NFL’s best defensive ends in Buffalo’s Mario Williams and Mark Anderson.
Even without Williams and Anderson, the Bills managed to sack then-Redskins QB John Beck ten times as Buffalo beat Washington 23-0 in the regular-season last year.
Defensively, the Redskins return their entire front-seven from a year ago, while the battle to watch on special teams tonight features kickers Graham Gano and Neil Rackers.
Gano and Rackers are expected to split kicks in Buffalo Thursday and the competition for the Redskins’ one kicking spot is expected to last throughout the preseason.
The lights are on at Ralph Wilson Stadium as the sun continues to battle the increasingly gray skies. There is a 50-to-60 percent chance of rain tonight in Orchard Park.
Check back Thursday night on WTOP.com for updates throughout the Redskins’ preseason opener.
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