ASHBURN — The Washington Redskins entered Tuesday needing to cut five players to get to the 75-man limit by the 4 p.m. deadline and they began that process by releasing veterans Stephen Paea and Perry Riley Jr.
Paea and Riley both entered the preseason needing to reclaim their roster spots after inconsistent performances in 2015. The depth along the defensive line and inside linebacker positions, combined with the money the team saved by releasing them, made them expendable on the 53-man roster.
The Redskins saved $4 million by cutting Riley, the 28-year-old inside linebacker. His play improved toward the end of last season when he was paired alongside Will Compton, but he missed the final six games of the season with a broken bone in his right foot.