The knee bothered him in the spring and again in the summer. It wasn’t hard to predict what would come next: more disruptions during the season. Except that hasn’t happened.
And not only has running back Clinton Portis started every game this season, but he’s powering another Redskins’ run to the postseason. He also said he feels even fresher than normal for this time of the year.
“I actually do,’’ he said. “I found it strange to feel the way I feel.”
Especially considering his 300 carries are tied for second in the NFL. But it’s not as if he’s leading the Redskins to the postseason the way he did two years ago, when he posted five straight 100-yard games.
This time, the Redskins (8-7) haven’t needed such heroics, not with the passing game producing. They’ve focused more on balance than in 2005, when the passing game wasn’t working.
However, Portis — who has 14 career 100-yard games in December — still needs to be effective for Washington to win. When he managed only 36 yards rushing against Chicago, he still came through with 86 receiving yards (Portis is just two yards shy of tying his career best of 364 yards for a season).
A week later he rushed for 126 yards against New York, and followed that with 76 grinding yards against Minnesota’s top-ranked run defense. Portis even threw a touchdown pass in the win over the Vikings, while accumulating 48 yards receiving, one reason why he was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
“He’s one of those backsyou can never give up on,’’ Redskins receiver Santana Moss said. “Late in the year when teams are trying to stop different things, or they’re beat up, that’s when he feels like he can take advantage of it.”
Portis’ freshness could stem from a coaching philosophy. Last season, the Redskins practiced in full pads late in the season. This year, because of all the night games, they’ve scaled way back, going without full pads or just conducting walkthroughs.
“The coaches are taking better care of us,” fullback Mike Sellers said.
Portis also said he, like his teammates, draw inspiration from slain safety Sean Taylor. But he doesn’t always want to talk about him.
“You can’t forget about that situation, but at the same time people constantly want to talk about it,’’ said Portis, the lone Redskin to speak at Taylor’s funeral. “You’re tired of talking about it. We go through it enough having to come into this locker room, seeing the memorial, knowing that he’s not out here. We appreciate it but, you know, pray about it.”
