Rocky McIntosh didn’t want to jinx himself last week, so he declined to talk — after five minutes of prodding by team officials — about his return from injury. After he did return, McIntosh still didn’t want to talk. So, walking off the field, he switched jerseys with teammate Khary Campbell, hoping to keep reporters away.
Unfortunately for McIntosh, he wasn’t hard to find.
That’s what the Redskins hope happens on the field now that he’s playing games again.
“They’re holding him back a little bit and it takes time,” said fellow linebacker Marcus Washington, “but when he’s out there, he’s Rocky.”
That’s what the Redskins’ defense needs. McIntosh was one of Washington’s top defenders last summer and started strong, only to first be slowed by a shoulder injury and then his season-ending knee injury in December.
The knock on McIntosh coming out of Miami was injuries, one reason he slipped to the second round in the 2006 draft.
For Washington’s defense to achieve what it wants, a healthy McIntosh is crucial. The same is true of corner Carlos Rogers, who also played for the first time Saturday since his own knee surgery.
“When I was out there in warm-ups, I thought about it a little bit,” McIntosh said, “but once it was game time, there’s no worrying about your leg.”
Both will likely play much more Saturday as the starters are expected to play the first half vs. Carolina. Which is why Saturday represented a good first step.
“He didn’t shy away from anything,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said of McIntosh.
Of course, they also need him to play better in goal-line situations; McIntosh didn’t look good in coverage on a touchdown pass to New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller in Saturday’s 13-10 preseason win. He had similar issues last season.
But he excels taking on blockers.
“He didn’t really get a chance to have any rhythm in his game,” Zorn said. “It will take him two to three games to get his instincts back, but when a play is coming right at him and is easy to read, he’s right on top of it.”
