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Odds Favor Trent Williams’ Holdout Extending Into Regular Season, Missing Week 1

Angelo Montilla

by Angelo Montilla in NFL Football

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 1:43 PM PDT

Redskins Trent Williams
Odds have been released on whether the Redskins' Trent Williams will be in the lineup by Week 1 or not. By Keith Allison (Wiki Commons) [CC License]
  • Seven-time Pro Bowler listed as enticing +200 underdog to be on field Week 1
  • Williams faces $40K fine for each missed day of Redskins training camp
  • Head coach Jay Gruden optimistic offensive tackle will rejoin team

The standoff between Trent Williams and the Washington Redskins hasn’t reached a boiling point as of yet, but there’s no end in sight as to when — or if — the star left tackle will re-join the team heading into the 2019 NFL regular season.

Williams has been holding out after demanding a trade, but the Redskins have made it clear they don’t want to deal the seven-time Pro Bowler.

“I would seriously doubt that,” Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said of the possibility Williams gets traded. “I do not have an understanding of what it would take to get him back here.”

Will Trent Williams Play for the Redskins in Week 1?

Outcome Odds
No -300
Yes +200

Odds taken 08/06/2019

Books released odds on whether Williams will be on the field for the opening week of the NFL regular season, with “no” coming in at -300. Betting on “yes” will pay out at +200

With only weeks remaining before the start of the season, is there any reason to believe a disgruntled Williams will be playing in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles?

Big Part of O-Line

Williams once again anchored a Redskins offensive line that limited opposing pass rushers to only 22 sacks on starting quarterback Alex Smith in 10 games last season. With rookie Dwayne Haskins expected to take over starting QB duties in the near future, having Williams on the field is imperative for the Redskins, who finished with a dismal 7-9 record a year ago.

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The issue revolving around Williams’ holdout reportedly stems from how team president Bruce Allen and the Redskins medical staff handled his health — specifically a pre-cancerous growth on his scalp. Williams is still under contract and has been losing $40,000 for each day he misses training camp.

The Redskins are expected to have a tough season ahead, with books listing the club as a +500 dark horse to make the playoffs and setting their total regular season wins projection at 6.5 heading into the upcoming NFL campaign.

Too Much at Stake

While all signs may point to this holdout dragging out, there is too much at stake for Williams to sit out for a long period of time. The 31-year-old future Hall of Fame tackle has $1.62 million in signing bonus money the Redskins could potentially try to get out of with Williams on the sidelines. As a safety net, Washington went out and signed veteran Donald Penn and Corey Robinson to fill the void Williams leaves on the offensive line.

Washington opens the regular season on September 8 on the road in Philadelphia. That gives the Redskins roughly a month to patch things up with Williams, who may be forced back on the field with the team not engaging in trade talks.

Williams will eventually come to his senses and rejoin the Redskins, especially considering the daily fines adding up.

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