The Washington Redskins have extended a one-year tender to inside linebacker Will Compton, according to a person familiar with the situation. Compton, an exclusive-rights free agent, is expected to sign the tender.
Compton started the final eight games of the regular-season, as well as the Redskins’ wild-card round loss against the Green Bay Packers, and recorded 70 total tackles during that stretch.
During Weeks 3 and 4, Compton filled in for inside linebacker Perry Riley, who was out with a calf strain. Compton played well in Riley’s absence and recorded 18 tackles, but fell back into his role as a backup once Riley returned.
In Week 9 against the New England Patriots, the Redskins’ starting inside linebackers struggled and Compton stepped in to play 52 defensive snaps. The following week, Compton supplanted Keenan Robinson as the starting “mike” linebacker and was responsible for the signal-calling, which he excelled at. Robinson also missed four games with labrum, biceps and rotator cuff injuries in his right shoulder and returned in a limited role at the end of the season.
At the NFL combine in Indianapolis, coach Jay Gruden indicated that Robinson will test the free agency market and is unlikely to return. Riley, who also fractured his right foot toward the end of the season, played in just nine games and has one year remaining on his contract.
Mason Foster, who filled in for Riley and started the final six games of the season, is also set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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