Pro Bowler will undergo season-ending surgery to repair torn right triceps
The Redskins’ offense needed to find answers entering their final three weeks. Now they have to find a left tackle — as well as a right one. That’s not the sort of news a team clinging to sagging playoff hopes needed to hear.
If Washington hopes to revive its chances for the postseason, it must do so without a five-time Pro Bowl left tackle. Chris Samuels will undergo season-ending surgery after tearing a tendon in his right triceps. He injured his arm in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 24-10 loss to Baltimore.
Recommended Stories
It was the Redskins’ fourth loss in five games and dropped them to 7-6, and trailing Dallas, Atlanta and Philadelphia for the last wild card spot.
Also, the Redskins could be without right tackle Jon Jansen for a couple weeks. He suffered a grade II sprain of the MCL in his right knee. The injury typically sidelines a player for two to four weeks, though Jansen played through a similar injury as a rookie in 1999. However, the risk to his ACL increases if he plays with this injury.
“I’m more cautious because it could lead to other things,” Jansen said. “It’ll be a tough call for me; I don’t want to give up my spot again.”
Safety Chris Horton (shoulder) might play Sunday.
Samuels’ season ends after he played with a bad knee for most of the past month.
Stephon Heyer will replace Samuels. Veteran Jason Fabini, who has started 127 games in his career, would play for Jansen. Tackle Devin Clark will be signed off the practice squad. Rookie third-round pick Chad Rinehart, inactive for every game thus far, likely would at least be active. Also, former Redskins tackle Todd Wade is unemployed.
“There’s obviously much less chemistry,” left guard Pete Kendall said. “With Chris it got to a point where it was assumed that he was seeing it the way I’m seeing it. Now it will be different.”
Heyer, who started five games at right tackle, has struggled on the left side in the past. With Heyer and Fabini in the game, the Redskins would be forced to keep their backs and tight ends in more. Players would also like to see a return to the ground game.
“We can’t get any more injuries, we just can’t,” said Redskins coach Jim Zorn. “That’s my mandate to them.”
Zorn also said there was no issue with running back Clinton Portis, who played just one series in the second half. Zorn said Portis’ lack of practice time caused him to hesitate on some pass plays.
“He is the bell cow,” Zorn said. “We have to shore up our problems on the line. We have to keep Clinton going. [But] he’ll be far more healthy and able to practice all week, which will help us down the road.”
