1. Running back Ryan Torain underwent X-rays of his left hand and could miss as much as two weeks according to the Washington Post. He banged it during a running play Wednesday morning. He had to stop practicing after this occurred. Coach Mike Shanahan said it might just be a sprain but “we take X-rays in case when it’s real sore.” Torain’s injury history is no secret; it’s a big reason why the coaches wanted to have another veteran running back on the roster.
Torain declined comment, but he left the afternoon walk-through with his left hand/arm heavily wrapped.
2. Receiver Brandon Banks did not practice because he said his knee, which required surgery in November, was sore when he woke up this morning. He had some swelling on the knee. “Just giving it some rest that’s all,” he said. “Anytime you’ve got an injury you’ll be cautious. But I feel like I’m 100 percent or right around there.” There’s a reason the Redskins found other kick returners this offseason in Niles Paul and Josh Wilson. They were brought here to play other positions, but the Redskins have choices, something they really didn’t have before.
3. Shanahan said Rex Grossman and John Beck will split time working with the first and second offenses. Considering he hasn’t named a starter, this is to be expected. Grossman will start practicing tomorrow, unless there’s some holdup in ratifying the CBA as ex-Redskin, and current Steelers rep, Ryan Clark said today might be the case.
4. The Redskins re-signed safety Reed Doughty, giving him a three-year deal, and defensive end Kedric Golston, who received a one-year contract. They had wanted him back all along; they also would like to bring back Chris Wilson and. Golston will go from starting at right end last season to being likely the fourth end this year. But he’s a big body who helps on special teams, works hard and never complains. Guys like that accept their roles and it’s why he’s back.
Golston said he had other offers and told ESPN 980 between practice sessions that Dallas was interested in him. Golston wasn’t worried about coming back to a team that has brought in two other ends.
“The fact of the matter is you need a good offensive line and defensive line so the more players you’ve got the better off you’ll be,” he said. “A lot of us got hurt last year and that put us in a bind so depth was probably a concern on their part…I’m back with the Redskins and that’s what’s important.”
Wilson, incidentally, has visited Seattle.
5. Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan remained sidelined; still another two or three days Shanahan said.
6. Punter Sav Rocca might be here by Monday, coach Mike Shanahan said. Actually, that’s what Shanahan hopes is the case. No, they will not look elsewhere for another punter. The market wasn’t good before he became available; it’s now still bad. “They can’t keep him there for six or seven months. Eventually they’ll let him go. If not I told him to get married to an American.” Shanahan schtick; only in training camp.
7. The Redskins still haven’t worn full pads and there’s a chance it won’t happen for a few more days at least. They’ve been in shells this week, but Shanahan said he wants the team in better football shape before he starts full-pad workouts. “We’re getting in better football shape,” he said. “When I feel we can have more contact I’ll do that because at certain positions you’re gonna have to do that to evaluate them.”
8. Beck is done with the number 3 and now will wear 12. And, as most things do with him, it led to a long explanation why. Not that I’m complaining; the guy can fill up a notebook. Anyway, it turns out he wore No. 14 when he was an 8-year-old flag football player because he idolized former BYU passer Ty Detmer. In his first year of tackle ball his coach, whom he thought was a Terry Bradshaw fan, handed him the No. 12. Beck wore that through junior high, high school and college. In Miami, that number is retired (Bob Griese). And when he came here, it belonged to Malcolm Kelly and it was too late to get anything done. They finally got around to switching it now. Kelly now will wear 14; Beck said he didn’t have to give up anything for the number; said Kelly didn’t like it anyway. And we also all know that Kelly is far from a lock to make the roster.
9. Beck enjoyed getting as many reps as he did, but that will end once Grossman starts practicing. That’s OK with Beck, whose arm needs a break. But there’s another reason. “Sometimes when you finish a rep you want to sort something out with my QB coach. But when you’re taking every rep you can’t do that until you get to the film. Sometimes being able to divide reps gives you a chance to immediately after that rep talk to your coach.”
10. More Beck. Though he took a lot of reps during the player minicamps and threw often to his receivers, he didn’t have anyone correcting him. “There’s no one standing there watching your feet or telling us what to eliminate or saying you took an extra hitch there,” he said. “It’s a little different when you see it on tape.”
11. The receiving corps isn’t the best in the NFL, but it is better than last season; so the competition in camp is tougher. “When you relax that’s when you get passed up,” receiver Anthony Armstrong said. “It’s good to see guys like Niles [Paul] and [Brandon] Banks making plays and you’re like, dang I just ran that route and maybe they didn’t throw it my way. I’m like shoot I’ve got to make a play because he just made a play.”
12. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said second-year linebacker Perry Riley is trying to learn “the hardest position on the field to learn.” That’s because Riley has to learn both inside positions; if the offense switches formations it also changes the responsibility of the inside ‘backers. He also has to learn the responsibilities of the position in their sub-packages. “He’s a very active kid who can run,” Haslett said. “He just needs time on the grass. The lockout set him back a little bit, not having a full offseason.”
13. The lack of crowds have been noteworthy, as this AP story discussed Tuesday. Wednesday morning’s attendance was probably between 200-300, making it the smallest that I’ve seen covering this beat (and have been to every training camp practice they’ve held in Ashburn). Not sure the reasons why; only those staying away know if it’s lockout related (other teams are drawing fewer fans too) or the heat or, as was the case this morning, the weather. I do know the interest remains strong based on feedback via Twitter. Also, the Redskins aren’t entering the season having made their usual big splashes in free agency. Add it up and … low attendance.
15. There’s still confusion as to whether or not the veteran free agents will be able to practice Thursday. And, if so, when. They can’t do anything until the CBA is ratified and Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark told the Steelers media that it might not happen in time.
The Redskins don’t even have a player representative yet (they still have to vote on it). Linebackers Lorenzo Alexander and London Fletcher are the likely candidates since both were highly informed during the proceedings. Vonnie Holliday had been the rep.
But the Redskins might have avoided any problems by switching their practices. They’ve moved their walk-through to 8:30 a.m. and the practice now begins at 4 p.m., when the new league year is scheduled to begin. Both sessions are open to the public.
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