With Perriman in mix, ’Skins hope to get more from WRs

Receivers struggle to connect with Smith on deep routes

ASHBURN, VA. — Alex Smith met his new receivers for the first time shortly before throwing to them in practice.

Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden hopes his quarterback will have other targets this weekend.

The Redskins signed veterans Michael Floyd and Breshad Perriman this week with rookies Cam Sims and Trey Quinn already on injured reserve, Paul Richardson is nursing a sore shoulder and Maurice Harris is coming back from a concussion. Gruden would love for Richardson and Harris to be ready to face the Packers on Sunday, but either way, Washington’s receivers have to be better than they were in a lackluster loss to Indianapolis.

“We’ve got to catch the ball,” Richardson said Wednesday. “A lot of it is playmaking with getting the ball in our hands. I think if we do that, especially the earlier we get the ball in our hands — the earlier the better — we can make somebody miss and go extend plays.”

Smith has no shortage of weapons on offense, from running backs Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson to tight end Jordan Reed and wideouts Richardson, Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson. But when the Colts made the Redskins onedimensional by taking the lead and limiting Peterson to 20yards on11carries, the passing game wasn’t able to compensate.

It would be difficult for Floyd and Perriman to get into that rhythm right away, though it might be necessary. Richardson did not practice Wednesday despite an MRI exam showing no damage to his shoulder, and his status is questionable. Harris, on the other hand, could make his season debut after missing roughly a month with a concussion. Richardson was signed during the offseason to give the Redskins downfield speed they’ve lacked since the departure of DeSean Jackson. Perriman has the same profile, and whether he or Richardson is active against Green Bay, the deep ball is something that needs to develop for the offense to have success.

“It’s rare that youwantyourquarterbacks to be forcing those throws, especially over the top of coverage if coverage is there,” Richardson said. “You’ve got to hit (defenses) intermediate and then you catch them trying to jump those low routes or intermediate routes and you make them pay over the top.”

NOTES: LG Shaun Lauvao did not practice because of a calf injury and could miss some time. Gruden said if Lauvao can’t play against the Packers, C Chase Roullier wouldslide over andTonyBergstromwould start in the middle. LB Zach Brown did not practice because of an oblique injuries, and RGBrandon Scherff and LT Trent Williams were limited with knee injuries.