Redskins intro QB Smith against Arizona's latest hired gun in Week 1

Washington is integrating several high-profile new pieces this season. Almost as many as Arizona.

When the Redskins and Cardinals meet in the NFL opener on Sunday, it will provide a first look into the remake as each attempt to end a two-year playoff drought.

The Cardinals hired Steve Wilks as head coach, triggering more staff changes that included the addition of former NFL head coach Mike McCoy as offensive coordinator.

Free agent Sam Bradford was signed to be the quarterback of the now and Josh Rosen was drafted to be the quarterback of the future.

The biggest addition, however, is the return of three-down halfback David Johnson, who electrified the NFL with 2,118 yards of total offense in a breakout 2016 but played only 46 snaps last season before suffering a fractured thumb in the season opener.

"When I first got here, everyone tried to explain just how special he was and what he was able to do in the run game and the passing game," Bradford said. "I've heard that before about some players, but then you actually see it and you see how smooth he is."

Washington will open with new quarterback Alex Smith, who was acquired after a career year in Kansas City and signed to a four-year, $94 million deal that includes $71 million guaranteed.

Smith threw for 4,042 yards and 26 touchdowns, both career highs, for the Chiefs in 2017.

"I think you can probably say there is somebody who's a better passer or a guy who is more athletic," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "He's not the most accurate. Not the strongest arm. Is he the best at each individual category? Probably not. But put all those together, he's pretty damn good. He's probably top five in all of them. That's pretty damn good."

The Redskins' offense took an unexpected hit when second-round rookie running back Derrius Guice, expected to start, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the preseason opener.

Washington signed former All-Pro halfback Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 448 yards in six games with the Cardinals last season, to team with Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley, but none has the explosiveness of Guice.

The Redskins added long-ball threat Paul Richardson to a receiving corps that includes Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson and tight ends Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis.

Bradford can target one of the most accomplished receivers in league history in Larry Fitzgerald, whose 1,234 receptions are third on the career list, but the other receivers are unknown quantities. Fitzgerald would pass Tony Gonzalez for No. 2 with a fourth straight 100-catch season.

Defense is another story. Neither team found solid footing last season.

Washington gave up 388 points while going 7-9 last season, tied with the Giants for the most points allowed in the NFC and fourth-most in the league.

The 8-8 Cardinals gave up 361 points while going 8-8, but defensive specialist Wilks already has attempted to address that by changing from a 3-4 to a 4-3 front.

Wilks was Carolina's defensive coordinator last year and the assistant head coach on the defensive side of the ball for the last three.

"This is not a rebuild," Wilks said in training camp. "This is a retool. I know a lot of people outside the organization aren't giving us an opportunity or a chance, and that's fine. But we've got a lot of talent ...We're going to make some noise this year."