1. The Redskins say Clinton Portis will be out for only four to six weeks with a third degree separation of his left groin. But there’s no guarantee he’ll return. Once players hurt their groin, there’s a higher likelihood of the injury re-occurring. Talked to one former player and asked how long he thought a player would be out if they suffered a third degree separation of the groin and his response? For the season. He stressed that it was a guess, but he also knows how tough it is to recover from such an injury.
2. Makes you wonder the damage Portis did by going back in the game after hurting his groin the first time. He re-injured it with one carry in the fourth quarter and now he’s done for at least a month. Give Portis credit for toughing it out.
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3. Now we’ll really find out about Ryan Torain. The puns on his last name are great and everyone seems to have confidence in him. But let’s remember a couple things: He had few options this offseason before signing with Washington and he could have been signed by another team after he was cut this summer. He wasn’t. Point being, we don’t really know yet what he can do.
4. Obviously Mike Shanahan has seen something in him that he likes, which is why he drafted him in Denver and then signed him in Washington. Here’s what Shanahan said today about Torain: “It’s easy to see if you’ve been around it. I could tell you that when he was a rookie in Denver that he’s got it. He’s a top back in the National Football League. There’s no question about it. Now, can he stay healthy? What’s a top back? Is he one of the greater backs? Can he separate himself from being a good back to a great back? What’s a great back? A guy that runs for 1,000 yards or a guy that averages 5 yards per carry instead of 3.5 yards a carry and just carries the ball all the time. There’s so many factors that I look at.”
5. A small interruption for a brief plug: Got a question for Redskins mailbag? Click here.
6. Back to football…. Though Portis had clearly lost a step, he still served a purpose and was a good all-around back. Had he played the entire game Sunday, he likely would have had a 100-yard day. And don’t forget his pass protection ability. Sort of a big thing. If Keiland Williams is promoted from the practice squad, then he could serve in that role. But, at this point in his career, think Donovan McNabb has complete faith in him picking up various blitzes?
7. The other part, and this is selfish, is that Portis is a much better quote than Torain. Of course, he’s a better quote than most guys. Torain comes across as a very nice guy and Shanahan will never have to worry about what he says. But don’t expect to see a lot of quotes from him. In a 19-question interview today, he talked about hard work in seven answers. His interview lasted 5:45. In contrast, McNabb also answered 19 questions and needed 11 minutes. Yes, one’s a longtime vet and the other is really in the spotlight for the first time in his NFL career. Guessing Torain has more personality than he’s shown.
8. That said, he is a good story in perseverance. Torain had a fractured toe as a senior at Arizona State, dislocated his elbow as a rookie and then suffered a torn ACL in his one and only start that season. He then sprained his knee the following summer and was cut by coach Josh McDaniels. So Torain is allowed to talk about hard work.
9. The question is, who will they cut when they sign another back? They have six receivers and two are returners. Devin Thomas doesn’t play from scrimmage, but he helps on special teams. The one receiver who could be in trouble is Roydell Williams. Has one catch; doesn’t help on teams.
10. Trent Williams was very confident that he would be able to play Sunday. Said he felt “10 times better” than he did a week ago. Mike Shanahan was not ready to proclaim him ready, but it’s a good sign that Williams’ limp was gone. Couldn’t say that last week.
11. The Redskins will sign punter Hunter Smith Thursday morning. Not sure if Josh Bidwell was hurt again, but his outing Sunday could not have helped. Bidwell’s last two punts of 32 and 15 yards showed he was just too inconsistent. Throw in the hip and he’s not someone the Redskins could rely on for the rest of the season.
12. One positive: We get to ask Smith about the fake field goal again from last year. Fun times.
13. My blog item from this morning, a few quick thoughts.
