Just signed center Brian de la Puente could start Sunday for Redskins
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 04: Lance Moore #16 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates with teammates Brian De La Puente #60 after scoring a 24 yard touchdown thrown by Drew Brees #9 in the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 4, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Brian De La Puente played with the Saints for many seasons, and now he may have the chance to start against them in Week 10. Al Bello AP Images
The Washington Redskins are in a bind at the center position, so they turned to street free agent Brian de la Puente earlier this week. After just a few days with the team, he could be making his first start this Sunday against his former team, the New Orleans Saints.
"The good thing is, if [de la Puente] is playing center, then Josh LeRibeus can play both guard spots and center," head coach Jay Gruden said, per Redskins blog. "So we have that covered as far as our backups are concerned. If something happens to Josh, you have de la Puente, or if something happens to de la Puente, Josh can play center. And obviously Josh can play both guard spots."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins talked about how important it was to develop a chemistry with de la Puente under center.
"It takes time. We're not going to be as far down the road this Sunday as we will be three Sundays from now. It takes time," Cousins said. "I'm really impressed with Brian's recall and how quickly he is picking things up. His approach to the game and the way he is a professional I think will help him and help us as an offense to learn on the fly."
He hasn't been announced as the starting center yet, but that hasn't stopped him from getting anxious about this Sunday's game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Every day I reminded myself that the opportunity's coming and I wanted to be ready," de la Puente said. "So worked hard, and when the opportunity came, I was really excited about, so fired up to be here, ready to go."