Redskins make 8 cuts, find a Way at punter

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Tress Way is the winner of the Washington Redskins punting competition, at least for now.

Way was the only punter left Friday after the Redskins waived Robert Malone, one of eight cuts as the team whittles its roster to the limit of 53 for the regular season.

The Redskins also waived tight end Ted Bolser, cornerback Richard Crawford, safety Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, receiver Lee Doss, nose tackle Robert Thomas and offensive linemen Kevin Kowalski and Tevita Stevens. Bolser was a member of this year’s draft class, a seventh-round selection from Indiana.

The moves left 14 more cuts to be made ahead of the NFL’s 4 p.m. Saturday deadline.

The Redskins began training camp with Malone and Blake Clingan competing for the punting job, but Clingan was waived after the second preseason game. The left-footed Way was then claimed off waivers from the Chicago Bears, and the former Oklahoma punter had an impressive showing with four punts for a 45.3-yard average and a 43.3-yard net over the final two preseason games.

Malone punted six times in preseason, averaging 39.8 yards with a 34.5-yard net.

Way has never played in a regular season game, so the Redskins might decide to audition other punters ahead of their opener Sept. 7 at Houston.

Way set Oklahoma’s school record with 71 punts of 50 or more yards from 2008-12. He spent the 2013 offseason with the Bears but was cut at the end of training camp. Chicago re-signed him in January.

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