Redskins’ Thomas bounces back up

Devin Thomas sometimes refers to himself as the “golden child,” but the receiver has been anything but golden since the Washington Redskins chose him in the second round of last year’s draft.

Thomas reported to training camp out of shape last season, missed 18 days with a pulled hamstring and wound up catching just 15 passes for 120 yards and no touchdowns. While Thomas struggled, rookies elsewhere - Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson and Denver’s Eddie Royal, for example - produced like veterans.

Thomas’ second season didn’t start any better. He lost a summer battle with draft classmate Malcolm Kelly for the starting job held last season by Antwaan Randle El. Getting little playing time in the first four games, Thomas caught just one pass for 7 yards.

But his performance improved and his prospects brightened in Week 5 against Carolina. Thomas grabbed three balls in a loss to the Panthers, earning him a promotion to the starting lineup over Kelly, who had suffered performance problems of his own.

“Devin’s work habits have really improved,” receivers coach Stan Hixon said. “He’s playing faster, running his routes better and catching the ball better, too. We had been seeing improvement as he had been going along. It wasn’t something that happened the week we made him the starter.”

Thomas went without a catch in his Week 6 start against Kansas City, but coach Jim Zorn stuck with him the next week against Philadelphia. Thomas responded with three receptions for 45 yards, two of which went for more than 20 yards and the other for his first NFL touchdown grab. Thomas’ 2-yard catch prevented the Redskins’ struggling offense from being shut out in the first half.

“I think that touchdown catch gave Devin a lot of motivation,” quarterback Jason Campbell said. “After that, he was hungry for more.”

But the brash Thomas has been hungry for the football since he left Michigan State after his junior year, when he led the Big Ten with 1,260 receiving yards on 79 catches, eight for touchdowns. After having just one ball thrown his way during the first five quarters this season, Thomas was pumped to return a kickoff in the second quarter of Week 2.

Taking on a starter’s role has given him a spark he had been missing.

“I’m plugged in a lot more as a starter,” he said. “It’s hard when you feel like you’re not [going to be used]. This is my chance to get more touches.”

But if the 22-year-old has changed on the field, off it he’s still a “wild child,” as he dubbed himself this spring. He updated that nickname to “golden child” after dyeing a golden stripe in the middle of his dark hair for his “Monday Night Football” start against the Eagles.

“Man, Devin ain’t maturing,” said No. 1 receiver Santana Moss, who has served as a mentor to Thomas and Kelly. “Devin gonna be Devin. [But] I’d rather have him be who he is and give you something new every day than be something that he ain’t. He’s matured a lot when it comes to his game. He’s more conscious of what his purpose is and what he means to the team.”

As he has seen with other young receivers over the years, Zorn said the light has come on for Thomas - or at least the dimmer switch is turned up halfway.

“His practice speed and his practice attention has dramatically increased, [but] he’s not out of the woods yet,” Zorn said. “He’s still a pup in my mind. He’s still climbing, but his attitude is right on. He’s working like a pro needs to work, and he’s earned his right to be on [the] field and us giving him the ball.”

Despite Thomas’ solid performance against the Eagles, getting him the ball downfield won’t be easy for an offense playing with a revamped line that has struggled in pass protection. Campbell has been sacked 12 times in the past three games.

“Devin’s got exceptional speed,” Campbell said. “We just gotta take more advantage of it. Those are the longer-developing plays, and right now we can’t afford those. But he’s got a big frame to take short passes, break tackles and turn them into bigger plays.”