Washington Redskins

Jay Gruden showed he believed in his starters by sitting them. The coach held nine firstteam players out of Friday’s 22-18 preseason victory against the New York Jets: QB Kirk Cousins, LT Trent Williams, TE Jordan Reed, WRs Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, CBs Josh Norman

and Bashaud Breeland and ILB Will Compton.

Gruden knows what he has in that group and is protecting them from injuries while getting an extended look at depth players. The result? When No. 2 QB

Colt McCoy and the makeshift first unit left the game at halftime, the Redskins led 14-2. McCoy was solid, completing 13 of 16 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns to backup WR Rashad Ross against one interception.

The defense delivered a powerful performance, led by Compton’s backup, LB Martrell

Spaight, who had four tackles and forced a fumble.

Rookie watch: Three rookies made strong cases Friday to make the final roster. Undrafted WR

Kendal Thompson made a tough one-handed catch with 29 seconds left and followed with a two-point conversion catch. Sixth-round QB Nate Sudfeld had a horrendous start, completing three of his first 12 passes, but went 7-for-9 on the final TD drive. And undrafted DE Anthony

Lanier added a sack and a quarterback hit to the pass he batted down in the preseason opener.

Noteworthy: RB Matt Jones, expected to be Washington’s featured back, has a slight separation of his shoulder. No timetable was available. … Before Gruden closed camp, a defensive lineman had to catch a punt. After several failed tries, 313-pound DE

Ricky Jean Francois made the camp-ending play. “Jay Gruden, if you ever need an emergency punt returner … I’m the guy,” he said.