Two things happened on Thursday that made Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins a heck of a lot more interesting.

First, USC quarterback Matt Barkley announced he was returning to school next fall, sending a ripple effect through the NFL draft world. Then, Thursday night the Indianapolis Colts won their second straight game, which will send fans of several teams to bed Saturday night with dreams of sugar plums and a shot at Andrew Luck dancing in their heads.

Barkley’s decision was especially tough on Redskins fans, who are hoping to get a franchise quarterback with their first choice, assuming it falls in the No. 5 to 10 range. We all know Luck is going No. 1, and Barkley’s return to USC certainly improves the stock of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, so any team who wants a shot at him may have to move up into the top five picks. 

Oklahoma’s Landry Jones has yet to declare his intentions for next fall. If Jones enters the draft, his stock will most certainly rise with Barkley unavailable. Redskins fans certainly hope Jones will enter the draft, giving them a little more hope to finding a quarterback of the future.

Vikings fans went to bed Thursday night with big smiles on their faces, as their relatively small chance at getting Andrew Luck got a lot bigger with the Colts’ win. With nobody quite sure what to make of rookie Christian Ponder so far, Minnesota would jump at the chance to start over and take Luck, the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning.

As for the Christmas Eve clash at FedEx Field between the Vikings and the Redskins, the more cynical of us might call it the resistible force vs. the movable object. Something has to give as a Vikings defense that hasn’t intercepted a pass in an NFL record nine straight games, squares off against Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman, who’s thrown a pick in 10 straight games.

The Redskins are certainly playing better lately than Minnesota, winning two of their last four games and playing very well in a loss to the Patriots. The Vikings, on the other hand, have lost six straight games and need to win their last two games to avoid tying the worst record in their 51-year history.

One of the few bright spots for Vikings fans during this disastrous season has been watching the monster play of Jared Allen, whose 17.5 sacks leads the NFL. He has an outside shot at Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5 sacks. It’s a favorable matchup for Allen Saturday as he’ll be matched up against undrafted rookie free agent Willie Smith, who’ll be making just his third start at left tackle.

So follow along with us as we live blog Saturday’s game with instant reaction and analysis as two teams hope to put a Christmas bow on disappointing seasons, either by winning or by making those dreams of Luck or Griffin III a little closer to reality.

Read More: Sav Rocca (P – WAS), Mike Sellers (FB – WAS), London Fletcher (LB – WAS), Jammal Brown (OT – WAS), Stephen Bowen (DE – WAS), Josh Wilson (DB – WAS), Roy Helu (RB – WAS), Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins did not hold a regular practice Friday in advance of Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, but instead held a walkthrough. After the walkthrough, the team elected to list starting running back Roy Helu (toe/knee) and offensive tackle Jammal Brown (groin) as questionable for the Vikings game. Washington estimates Helu and Brown would have been limited had the team held a conventional practice.

The Redskins list their other wounded players as probable for Saturday, including linebacker London Fletcher (ankle) and fullback Mike Sellers (elbow). Fletcher and Sellers had only practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday. Washington also lists defensive end Stephen Bowen (knee), punter Sav Rocca (ankle), and cornerback Josh Wilson (head/chest) as probable.

Kickoff for Saturday’s Redskins/Vikings matchup is set for 1 PM on FOX.

For more Redskins coverage, please visit Hogs Haven, SB Nation’s Redskins blog. For the perspective from the other side, please check out SB Nation Minnesota and Daily Norseman, SB Nation’s Vikings blog.

The Washington Redskins cut their roster down to 53 players Saturday, but with eight receivers and no backup guards, it’s obvious that this isn’t the roster Mike Shanahan will open the season with.

At this very moment, Redskins front office officials are working the phones as they look to improve different parts of the team. Moves will be made today.

Here are five questions facing the team as it enters Week 1 of the regular season:

1.) What are they going to do with all these receivers?

Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Armstrong, Terrence Austin and Leonard Hankerson making the team were not surprises. Niles Paul and Donte Stallworth also making the cut were, however, not because they can’t play, but because with kick/punt return man Brandon Banks, that’s eight wideouts. Washington has the same number of receivers as they do offensive linemen. Could a trade be in the works as the Redskins try to use the depth at this position to upgrade another spot?

2.) Who backs up guards Kory Lichtensteiger and Chris Chester?

A surprise Saturday was the release of Artis Hicks, the only veteran backup interior lineman. The Redskins obviously weren’t happy with Hicks’ play this preseason and must be targeting another veteran or two, because second-year pro Erik Cook isn’t exactly a go-to guy if one of the starters — both have struggled this preseason — goes down.

3.) Do they have enough at safety for now?

LaRon Landry’s availability for the season opener is in doubt, and it’s believed he could miss a few weeks with that hamstring injury. On Saturday, Washington cut Chris Horton and Anderson Russell. That means rookie DeJon Gomes is the first — and only — man off the bench if Reed Doughty or Oshiomogho Atogwe are hurt. Backup cornerback Kevin Barnes can play some free safety, but is that enough?

4.) Who makes the eight-man practice squad?

Draft picks Evan Royster and Maurice Hurt make sense. And with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, so does Ben Chappell, who was cut on Monday but spent all of camp and preseason with the team. If not Chappell, another passer would be added. Somebody’s got to run the scout team. The team is a little thin at defensive end, so a player at that position would make sense as well. Doug Worthington maybe?

5.) Who starts at quarterback?

Is it Rex Grossman, who has the experience and the better preseason numbers? Or is it John Beck, who is more athletic, did do some nice things in the preseason and has a bigger upside in Mike Shanahan’s mind? Shanahan would like to keep it under wraps, but this has to come out at some time this week.

Read More: Donovan McNabb (QB – WAS), Albert Haynesworth (DT – WAS), Washington Redskins

UPDATE: The Redskins have clarified and said Friday, not Saturday, is the first official practice, but it is closed to the public.

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The full Washington Redskins 2011 training camp schedule has been released to the public, and now, we know what it will mean for the players. Training camp will officially begin on Thursday, but the first open practice won’t be until Saturday morning. As it turns out, that also will be the first practice with pads all week.

Mike Jones of the Washington Post reports that the first three days of training camp will not feature full practices. Here is the schedule:

#Redskins timeline: Wednesday is report day, Thursday is physicals; Friday is conditioning work and first official practice is Saturday.

This is hardly a surprise, but now it is official. Players began using the facilities as early as Tuesday, though not everyone was present. Wednesday is the day that everyone needs to report, so it will be interesting to see whether Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth show up.

For more on the Redskins, visit Hogs Haven.