1. Running back Ryan Torain needed four screws inserted into his left hand and will miss seven to 10 days, coach Mike Shanahan said. Torain fractured his hand in practice Wednesday morning.
Torain, of course, is unlikely to play in the Aug. 12 preseason opener vs. Pittsburgh. Injuries have slowed Torain since he entered the NFL in 2008, though until now it’s always been a leg injury. That’s why Shanahan wanted another veteran in training camp, trading for Arizona’s Tim Hightower on Sunday.
2. Meanwhile, receiver Malcolm Kelly said he was limited in practice because of a sore right foot (which he said was just from running routes). He’s been icing it for a few days.
“I’ll be out there [Friday],” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s a red flag, let’s see how long he’s out,” Shanahan said. “Obviously if you keep getting hurt that’s not going to help your chances of making the team.”
3. Tight end Chris Cooley was limited because he had fluid in his left knee. Shanahan said they’ve been monitoring Cooley’s knee, making sure he doesn’t overdo it.
4. The Redskins brought in free agent linebacker Lofa Tatupu and cornerback Kelvin Hayden Thursday. Neither player has signed yet. Tatupu, a former Pro Bowler who has spent his career in the 4-3, has been plagued by injuries the past three seasons. Hayden, a four-year starter with Indianapolis, missed the last five games in 2010 with a neck injury.
5. Not sure if Rex Grossman would be happy to see Hayden or not; he turned around Indianapolis’ Super Bowl win over Chicago with a pick six of Grossman.
6. Punter Sav Rocca is expected to be in town sometime Saturday and available to practice Monday. He’s been stuck in Australia re-applying for a work visa.
7. Shanahan on Reed Doughty’s return: “You want your core football players; not everyone is a superstar. Reed is a guy you can count on on special teams. He can start, he can play either safety position. He’s a student of the game. He’s very accountable. He’s the kind of guy you have to have to win championships. I like everything about him and he’ll help us win this year.”
Doughty said the last 24 hours have been crazy.
“You know, about 4 p.m. [Wednesday] I didn’t know what I was gonna do and about 4:15 I was in the car with three kids and my wife taking me to the airport,” he said. “This is where I wanted to end up.”
8. Shanahan on Rocky McIntosh: “It’s good to get him back. He has a chance to compete and that’s all we can ask. He did a good job for us. We look for him to come in full speed ready to go.”
9. Yes, he was less effusive about McIntosh’s return. But what that means, not sure. Just pointing it out.
10. And, finally, on Kedric Golston: “He’s the same type of guy we’re talking about. That’s how you win, you have guys that are full-go and give you everything you have, whether it’s first team or second team they’ll practice and when the opportunity comes they take advantage of it. He’s a big part of our team.”
11. It was very weird seeing the 16 players on a different field stretching because the CBA had not yet been ratified. Then it was and, at 4:57 p.m., they were officially able to practice. That’s when 10 of them ran onto the field for a first offense vs. first defense drill.
“Oh man I was ready to go,” corner Josh Wilson said. “You know at the horse track, they hold the horses back? I was like, let me out of the gates. It was a definite sigh of relief and a lot of frustration that finally, after four and a half months, it’s like all right now we’re back to football.”
And Stephen Bowen said, “It was weird, we were caught in limbo. After everybody agreed to the CBA, we were in the locker room and they gave us our jerseys, then they took them away and then they gave them back. Then we came on the field and they told us we can’t stretch with the team. I’m just happy it’s finally over.”
12. No word on how soon LaRon Landry or any of the other guys on the PUP list will be ready. But Shanahan said Landry and Robert Henson are closer to returning than Kareem Moore.
