[CRedskinsRule]

The depth chart, post-Rak and Carriker - Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Defensive line

Starters: RE Jarvis Jenkins, NT Barry Cofield, LE Stephen Bowen
Reserves: E Kedric Golston, E Worthington, NT Chris Baker

Jenkins gets his big opportunity and there is no reason to think that he won’t handle it well. After all, the Redskins drafted him in the second round to take over for Carriker at some point and that might have been this year had Jenkins’ not missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

This is not to say that there won’t be a dropoff with Carriker out, at least in the short term. He was the starter for a reason and Jenkins is far from a finished product.

Jenkins still might fill in to give Cofield a rest in nickel situations while Baker, who was inactive in the first two games, will rotate in at NT on some running downs. Golston moves up to being the top reserve at DE.

Linebacker

Starters: OLB’s Ryan Kerrigan, Rob Jackson; ILB’s Perry Riley, London Fletcher
Reserves: OLB’s White, Chris Wilson; ILB’s Lorenzo Alexander, Keenan Robinson

The Redskins have been an anomaly in the NFL in that their four linebackers stay on the field for virtually every snap. That could change as the Redskins want to give both Jackson and Wilson at shot at winning Orakpo’s job. They could end up rotating situationally as they determine the strengths and weaknesses of each.

The other reserve linebackers will continue to do what they have done, play special teams and wait to see if their opportunity comes up.

Honestly this is what quality depth gives you. While Rak and Carriker were the starters for clear reasons, I tend to think that with time the reserves will step up and show themselves well.