The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Due to a four and a half month lockout, this past offseason was strange for all NFL players. For sixth-year unrestricted free agent safety Reed Doughty, it brought about uncertainty as to where he would play or if there was even going to be a season at all.

"It was very different," Doughty said. "The longer it went on the stranger it felt. Missing a few workouts in March didn't feel like a big deal, but missing all OTA's and mini-camps felt weird."

Because the players were not allowed to work out with their own coaches or trainers employed by the team, it was left up to the athletes to take part in their own workouts, whether it was individually or in organized practices set up by teammates.

Led by linebackers London Fletcher and Lorenzo Alexander, the Redskins players decided to take part in their own mini-camps at a high school in Virginia. The camps were held in April, May, and June and averaged about 40 players per practice. Among those not present was Doughty, who stayed back home in Colorado.

"There were a few reasons I missed [the player-run mini-camps]. First and most importantly, my wife was on bed rest for the first set and our new baby was just a few weeks old for the second set [of player-run mini-camps]. Second, I was a free agent, so the risk of injury was too great and I didn't know if I was coming back," he said.