1. Running back Clinton Portis might never play for the Redskins again, after going on injured reserve. Portis will undergo surgery on his lower abdomen by Dr. James Andrews. Thing is, Portis looked good on the five carries he had vs. Tennessee, gaining 32 yards and showing more burst than the other backs.
2. It’s hard to imagine Portis returning unless he takes a massive pay cut. And even then, would the Redskins want to bring him back? When healthy, he’s still a good player. His value is high because he can still help in protection and though not a great runner, he’s still fine. But staying healthy is the issue and he will have missed 17 games in the past two seasons. Coach Mike Shanahan said Portis can still play. “I don’t think there’s any question about it,” Shanahan said. “He’s got strong will. He’s got that inner drive that most people don’t have.”
3. This also means Portis would not leave here as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, trailing John Riggins by 648 yards. This is probably as it should be; Riggins deserves the mark considering the success Washington had as a team. However, that makes what Portis did all the more remarkable. He gained 6,824 yards and never really played with a good passing attack in Washington. He was always the guy, often the only guy, opponents wanted to stop.
4. Guard Artis Hicks said, “Anytime you lose a guy like Clinton, it’s more than just the rushing yards. He was great at picking up blitzes, blocking down the field for receivers. He was a leader amongst that group.”
5. Meanwhile, there’s concern about when LaRon Landry will return, if at all, this season. Mike Shanahan said: “We really have no choice but to rest it because it’s inflamed and he can’t run. There’s too much pain. There’s nothing you can do to play with it, so you have to play through the pain. And if you play through that pain, there’s a chance of rupturing the Achilles and we don’t want to do that.”
6. Translation: Reed Doughty might be playing a lot over the next six weeks. Doughty is a good backup strong safety and deserves praise for how hard he comes up in the box. He disrupted a couple plays simply because of where he takes on a pulling lineman. He lacks Landry’s speed, but not his desire.
7. Hicks loved Keiland Williams’ effort vs. the Titans. “To have all this thrown at you and to play the way he’s playing, it speaks volumes of what kind of guy he is,” Hicks said. “He’s a real good running back; he’s a tough guy. He’s still learning and he’ll make mistakes, but he’s a fighter. And you saw him in there grinding and fighting it out on Sunday. He was running the ball extremely hard this past Sunday. Maybe there weren’t any 40 or 50-yard gains, but every time he went down his shoulder pads were facing north and south. He was running that ball hard. That was good to see.”
8. It’s not a guarantee that Williams starts, by the way. James Davis could get the nod with Williams as the third-down back. Davis is not a third-down back; not a good blocker or pass-catcher. Sort of makes it difficult, don’t you think?
9. The Redskins had five players who didn’t practice and seven more who were limited because of injuries. Yikes. LB Lorenzo Alexander (hamstring), DL Jeremy Jarmon (hamstring), SS LaRon Landry (Achilles), LB Rocky McIntosh (thigh) and RB Ryan Torain (hamstring) did not practice.
10. Those who were limited: WR Brandon Banks (knee), G Derrick Dockery (knee), DL Kedric Golston (elbow/groin), G Artis Hicks (thigh), WR Santana Moss (knee), C Casey Rabach (knee) and CB Carlos Rogers (hamstring) were limited.
11. Rabach said he will play: “As far as my mind, I’m ready to play. I never want to let my teammates down. If I can play I’m playing. I don’t think too much about it other than it’s my job to go out and play and that’s what I love to do and I will do it if I can.” Hicks also said he’s optimistic about playing.
12. Rogers said he’s not sure if he’ll be able to play: “The hamstring has a mind of its own. I may feel good, come out and do a wrong cut and may be out again.”
13. Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall is anxious to cover Percy Harvin – and not just because he considers him a good receiver. Harvin is Hall’s second cousin; Hall’s dad and Harvin’s mom are first cousins. “I can’t wait to see if he’s as good as everybody said he is,” Hall said. “It’s definitely a pride thing. I’m definitely going to try to jump on him as best I can. … After the game I’ll tell him what he needs to work on.”
14. Hall said he tried to recruit Harvin to Virginia Tech and that then-USC coach Pete Carroll wanted him in securing him for the Trojans. Harvin instead opted for Florida.
15. The Redskins are expected to sign running back Andre Brown to replace Portis on the roster. Brown, a fourth-round pick out of North Carolina State in 2009 by the New York Giants, missed last season after tearing his Achilles’ tendon. He was then cut in camp this past summer by the Giants. He’s played for Denver, Indianapolis and Carolina this season. Redskins running backs coach Bobby Turner scouted him before the draft while with Denver.
16. Newly-signed Macho Harris has played corner and safety. He was drafted as a corner by Philadelphia, then switched to safety where he started eight games. Sounds as if the Eagles were desperate for anyone to start there and weren’t all that impressed with his play. They moved him back to corner after the season, then returned him to safety this summer only to cut him. He was sidelined until now. “It was hard, very emotional,” he said. “I had to stay strong and continue to believe. Guys tend to fold their tents, but I feel I have more years in me.”
17. One way he stayed sharp is by playing a game in a Fairfax County flag football league, just to stay in shape. Don’t laugh; Anthony Armstrong did the same after he wasn’t drafted.
18. Harris, who played at Virginia Tech, grew up a New York Giants fan but became a Redskins fan after moving to Virginia.
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