Despite nagging injuries, Portis still too good to sit
Jim Zorn knows what he wants to do. He wants to rest Clinton Portis. He also knows that he wants to win. And that means Portis will continue to play.
At least for now.
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“At some point, and I don’t know if it’s this game, but I have to just say, ‘Let’s shut this thing down and give him a week,’” Zorn said. “So he can participate in practice. I would love that, but I can’t do that right now. The problem is, every one of these games keeps building.”
In other words, Portis will keep going until, well, he can’t. Though Zorn said he’ll be a game-time decision — again — Portis said there’s no doubt he’ll play. This despite his sore knee. And hip. And ribs. And neck.
“It’s always the same with running backs,” Portis said. “You’re just fighting through, finding a way to get to the games. This ain’t nothing new for me.”
At 221 pounds, he’s on the small side to take a heavy pounding. His 255 carries are third most in the NFL.
But the Redskins have started to limit him on third downs, using fullback Mike Sellers to pick up blitzes. Backup Ladell Betts could get more carries Sunday vs. Baltimore.
“I’m trying to get [Portis] to play every week,” Zorn said. “We just have to. We can’t keep him out.”
Getting him ready means no practicing.
“When you give your all Sunday, you don’t recover until Wednesday or Thursday,” he said. “Congratulations to those guys who can play on Sunday and be ready Wednesday and Thursday. But I’m seven years in [the league], the wear and tear, my body aches … I’m getting old.”
Redskins guard Pete Kendall said, “Every running back has to be a tough guy, particularly the elite running backs. It’s not a stretch to call him that. He’s as tough as they come.”
The trouble this week might not be the injuries, but rather the Baltimore defense. The Ravens have gone 31 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. They’re third in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game at 78.25.
And their No. 1 target to stop this week will be Portis, the NFL’s second-leading rusher with 1,228 yards. The good thing for Zorn is that he continues to see Portis have enough burst to be effective.
“Once he decides that he can go, he doesn’t hesitate,” Zorn said. “That’s why I keep playing him. If I thought he was gonna hold back or he’s just going at a slow pace, I wouldn’t have him play. When I see him burst or see him accelerate, I think we owe it to ourselves to play him.”
