Young Redskins wide receivers slow to develop

WASHINGTON -- In the 2008 draft, Washington selected two receivers in the second round, hoping one might emerge into a starring role. Four games into this season, neither has made the impact coaches had hoped.

Malcolm Kelly, who earned the starting flanker spot during the preseason, has posted worse numbers than every No.2 receiver in the league, with the exception of Oakland rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey. And through four games, Devin Thomas has just one catch for seven yards.

"People do group us together all the time, and they just want it right now," Kelly said of fans' growing frustrations. "But like I said, it's going to happen when it's going to happen."

Kelly has six catches for 65 yards. He revealed Wednesday that he's been bothered by ligament damage in his right thumb since the first play of the St. Louis game two weeks ago, and coach Jim Zorn said he expects Thomas to see more snaps today against Carolina. Zorn doesn't anticipate a change in the lineup but said that he likes how Thomas has progressed this season.

Kelly, who was limited to five games as a rookie and had microfracture surgery on his knee after the season, said he hasn't been limited in practice but does experience severe pain in the thumb with every catch.

He played through the pain during last weekend's game against the Bucs and had zero catches. Quarterback Jason Campbell only targeted him on two occasions - once into double coverage, which resulted in an interception for the Buccaneers.

The 2008 draft was not a great on-- for receivers, but Denver's Eddie Royal and Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson -- both selected after Thomas but before Kelly -- have already grown into impact players. In the third round, Chicago selected Earl Bennett, who leads the Bears with 200 yards on 15 catches, and the Giants took Mario Manningham, who has 306 yards and two TDs on 18 catches.

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