1. Redskins safety LaRon Landry said he’s going to play Sunday, despite missing his second straight day of practice because of a sore Achilles. Landry endured a rough season in 2010 because of his Achilles, being placed on injured reserve and missing the final seven games.
“As of right now it’s just a little sore, I’ll get through it,” he said. “It got a little sorer than usual. I can deal with it though.
“Last year it was unbearable. Now it’s manageable.”
But coach Mike Shanahan said, “Obviously it’s inflamed enough where he couldn’t practice; that’s never a good sign.”
2. Linebackers London Fletcher (ankle) and Keyaron Fox (infection) did not practice. Fox spent last week in the hospital with a staph infection. Left guard Maurice Hurt (ankle) and receiver Niles Paul (toe) also did not practice. Right tackle Jammal Brown (groin) and Sean Locklear (ankle) both were limited.
Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said Fletcher will play.
3. It’s uncertain what the Redskins will do at right tackle if neither Brown nor Locklear can play. Willie Smith or Tyler Polumbus would start. The question is: what if Brown/Locklear can’t play and Hurt is out as well? They could switch Will Montgomery back to guard and put Erik Cook at center. That didn’t work well the first time. There’s always practice squader Erik Olsen. Or they could opt for one of the tackles to play inside, which clearly would not be the best option. It’s a potentially tough situation, more than it already was.
4. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said neither interception Sunday was quarterback Rex Grossman’s fault. The first, obviously, came when receiver Leonard Hankerson slipped. The second occurred in part because receiver Jabar Gaffney broke off his route and left the linebacker in the passing lane (the ball was intended for Hankerson). Having watched the play, oh, 15 times there’s no doubt Gaffney messed up. But when he started to cut back outside, Grossman still had a half-second to react. Instead, he still pulled the trigger. Not blaming him, but not absolving either.
5. It does seem like there’s more talk this year about who’s to blame for every interception. Not sure I’ve heard this much of it in previous seasons. In some ways I understand: Grossman has a penchant for mistakes and it almost feels like the coaches want to say, ‘See, it’s not all his fault; this isn’t the same old Rex.’ Heck, in a few cases it hasn’t been. And maybe if they didn’t do that, then everyone would think Grossman hasn’t changed. Which many people don’t. It’s also true that many interceptions throughout the course of a season, with any quarterback, can be blamed on others. But this is a bottom line business and in 10 games he’s turned the ball over 21 times.
6. That said, there’s no doubt Grossman should continue starting. One player said, “I would have put him back in a while ago.”
7. Running back Tim Hightower spoke to the media Thursday for the first time since his surgery nine days ago. Don’t ask him for a timetable of his recovery.
“I don’t believe in timelines,” he said. “I’m going to give it all I have and put as much passion into rehabbing my knee as I did playing football. So I really don’t even ask for timelines because I don’t listen to them anyway.”
Hightower is not under contract for next year, but said, “I love Washington and what they’re doing here.”
8. Linebacker Perry Riley will continue to start at inside linebacker opposite Fletcher after a solid debut. Yes, Riley made mistakes: the coaches say he had 15 minuses out of 64 snaps. But Riley also had four tackles for a loss.
“He’s going to have growing pains,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “But everybody could see his speed and quickness and athleticism. That’s one thing you can’t teach.”
The Redskins blitzed Riley and Fletcher quite a bit last game, but they typically don’t run those same blitzes vs. Dallas. That means Riley will have to do more reading and reacting.
Haslett said there were a couple plays vs. Miami in which Riley executed his responsibility, but failed to adjust to a twist in the blocking.
“If it ever happens again or it happens this week, he’ll know exactly what we want,” Haslett said.
9. To subscribe to my Friday email report, click here. This week: Talking Orakpo’s pass rush; what a center looks for before the snap and more.
