The Washington Redskins officially announced the signing of offensive tackle Donald Penn. However, the team also announced they have signed offensive guard Hugh Thornton.
The team waived offensive guard Tyler Catalina and center Casey Dunn.
Catalina’s waiving comes one day after he was involved in the first fight of training camp, as he exchanged blows with defensive lineman JoJo Wicker before getting clobbered by defensive tackle Tim Settle.
Dunn, who was waived with a injury destination, initially made the Redskins’ 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2018, appearing in two games before he was waived in November and spent the remainder of the season on the team’s practice squad.
Dunn’s release means the team will go with Tony Bergstrom as the primary backup for Chase Rouiller at center. Meanwhile, fifth-round pick Ross Pierschbacher of Alabama appears to be replacing Dunn as the project center, a role Dunn was last season.
Signing Penn had been expected since the veteran tackle worked out with the team last week. However, signing Thornton was a surprise.
Thornton was a 2013 third-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts. He spent four seasons with the team, playing in 37 games with 32 starts. However, he last played in the NFL in 2015.
After spending 2016 on the IR, Thornton retired from football in 2017, but returned earlier this year playing for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football.
Thornton will fill in for Catalina in hopes of making the team. With Brandon Scherff locked at right guard, Thornton joins Ereck Flowers and fourth-round pick Wes Martin for battle for left guard.
