Redskins Will Be Without More Key Players This Week
It was bitterly cold in Ashburn on Friday and the Redskins were practicing without some very important members of the team. Now eliminated from playoff contention, it makes sense that the coaching staff has decided to sit many of the players who have been fighting through nagging injuries. The team is absolutely gutted by an almost unbelievable series of injuries and with nothing left to play for, we’re now seeing the squad stripped to the bone for this weekend’s matchup against the Cardinals. Below is a rundown of the definite/probable absences for Sunday afternoon.
Zach Brown (ILB) – Hip/Ankle/Toe/Achilles – OUT
Brown has been arguably the best defensive player for the Skins this year, leading the league in tackles. His absence is a huge blow to a team already cobbled together and hanging on to respectability by a thread. He has been playing through injuries for weeks and the Skins have finally decided to sit him down. He will be a free agent at the conclusion of the season and should be one of the top signing targets of the club. Brown has been incredibly reliable and durable, not missing a game since 2014 before this week. Allowing him to be further injured in a meaningless game is not a good idea for the player or the organization.
Montae Nicholson (S) – Concussion – OUT
Safety has been a position of uncertainty for the Redskins all season, ever since projected starter Su’a Cravens bailed on the team just before Week 1. Nicholson will miss his fourth straight game this weekend with a concussion suffered in Week 11 versus New Orleans.
Trent Williams (OT) – Knee – QUESTIONABLE
Williams has been playing through a serious knee problem since Week 4 and has already missed several games. He will need surgery in the off season to repair it. It seems unlikely he will play again in 2017 and he may soon become the latest in a long line of Redskins to hit the IR.
Ryan Grant (WR) – Ankle – QUESTIONABLE
Grant injured his ankle during last weeks game against the Chargers. With so many of the offensive weapons missing, Grant has been targeted more than he probably should and, if he can play, likely will be again on Sunday. He has been participating in practice this week in a limited capacity, so he may be able to go on Sunday.
Ryan Anderson (LB) – Ankle – QUESTIONABLE
Anderson is really needed this weekend with Zach Brown out. He played 24 snaps last week and came away with five solo tackles. He was limited in practice all week, including Friday. It remains to be seen how likely it is that he can play against Arizona.
Morgan Moses (OT) – Ankle – QUESTIONABLE
Moses has been fighting through a series of injuries for most of the season and his ankle is the current issue. He’s officially listed as questionable but is closer to probable. With Williams a question mark and Roullier also potentially unable to play, the team needs Moses, even if he isn’t at 100%.
Maurice Harris (WR) – Concussion – QUESTIONABLE
Harris hasn’t had a huge role on the offense this season, but he has shown a few flashes here and there and with so many other players injured, the Skins need all hands on deck. Unfortunately, Harris hasn’t been able to come out of the concussion protocol and may miss his second consecutive game on Sunday.
Terrell McClain (DT) – Toe – QUESTIONABLE
McClain has already missed the last three games and is likely to be out this weekend as well. The defense has been awful lately, and that trend will probably continue this week with Anthony Lanier and Matt Ionnidis taking the majority of the snaps.
Chase Roullier (C) – Hand – QUESTIONABLE
The Skins offensive line has been one of the hardest hit units all season and this week is no exception. Roullier, with a hand injury, is the third lineman on the questionable list. He practiced all week but still may not be able to play, in which case Bergstrom will again be snapping the ball to Cousins.
Injured Reserve Moves
To add to the Redskins’ already staggering injury woes, they placed Jordan Reed, Byron Marshall, and Chris Carter on the Injured Reserve list on Tuesday. This brings an end to yet another injury-riddled season for Reed, who might be the best tight end in football when he’s healthy, which is far too seldom. Byron Marshall was barely with the team long enough for a cup of coffee before his season-ending hamstring injury, and Chris Carter suffered a broken fibula in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. This brings the total number of Redskins IR players to a whopping 22. People like to say that injuries aren’t an excuse, but it’s difficult to imagine any way this team could have been successful this year.
