ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins cut 11th-year defensive end Renaldo Wynn on Saturday, completing a preseason purge in which the team said a surprising goodbye to three well-liked veteran leaders.
Wynn followed linebacker Lemar Marshall and defensive tackle Joe Salave'a out the door as the Redskins sought to improve a defense that ranked 31st in the league last season.
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Marshall and Salave'a were cut earlier in preseason, while Wynn was one of 22 players released at the NFL deadline to establish a 53-man roster for the regular season.
"He's been a leader for us, and he is a quality person," coach Joe Gibbs said. "We had to try and make the best decision we could, but it is a very difficult choice to make. It's hard to get a better person than Renaldo."
Wynn, who turns 33 Monday, spent five seasons with the Redskins but lost his starting job last season when Andre Carter was signed as a free agent. The 1997 first-round draft pick from Notre Dame had a career-low 18 tackles last season.
"One door closes, another door opens," Wynn said. "I feel like I definitely have a few more years of playing left in me. I feel good. I have some good memories here, five years of memories, and that can't be taken away."
Like Salave'a, Wynn was cut in favor of inexperienced potential. Taking his spot on the roster is first-year player Chris Wilson, who went to Northwood University before playing two years in the CFL.
Other notable cuts included cornerback Ade Jimoh, who had made the team four straight years based solely on his special teams ability, and rookie quarterback Jordan Palmer, a sixth-round draft pick. In addition, linebacker Dallas Sartz, a fifth-round selection, was waived-injured because of a hamstring ailment.
The departures of Palmer and Sartz mean that only two of Washington's five 2007 draft picks -- first-round choice LaRon Landry and fifth-rounder H.B. Blades -- made the team.
The Redskins kept only four receivers: Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, Brandon Lloyd and James Thrash. Mike Espy had been the favorite to land the No. 5 spot before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the preseason game against Pittsburgh. However, the cuts left the Redskins at 52 players -- one under the NFL limit -- leaving the team room to sign a free agent receiver cut by another team.
