In a meaningless game, a meaningless pass led to a meaningless interception. And that’s when the game suddenly had meaning for the Redskins.
Running back Clinton Portis suffered a partially dislocated shoulder making a tackle on that interception and will miss the rest of the preseason. But he won’t need surgery.
Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said he hopes Portis returns for the Sept. 11 season opener against Minnesota. Portis was hurt in the first quarter of Sunday’s 19-3 loss at Cincinnati.
Portis was checked out by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., Monday afternoon. Andrews confirmed the initial reports, telling Gibbs that Portis could begin rehabilitating as soon as the soreness disappeared.
The running back situation looks much different than it did a week ago. Portis, who has rushed for 2,831 yards his first two seasons in Washington, is out for now; Kerry Carter, whom the Redskins liked, suffered a season-ending knee injury; Jesse Lumsden, whom they also praise, is still sidelined with a hip flexor and Ladell Betts missed Sunday with a hamstring injury.
Betts, expected to play Saturday, will be the No. 1 back until Portis returns, with Rock Cartwright as the No. 2.
“Ladell is very important to us,” Gibbs said. “I’m glad we’ve got him.”
Betts rushed for 118 yards in the 2004 season finale — the only game Portis missed in his first two years in Washington. Betts offers more power and has better hands; Portis is more explosive and a better pass protector.
Before leaving for Alabama, Portis told WJLA-TV that he’s not angry about the injury. But he remained upset about playing in the preseason.
“I don’t know why myself or any other player of my caliber should be playing in the preseason,” said Portis, his left shoulder in a sling. “For the last four years I’ve done enough to show the world I’m going to be ready for the season.”
Portis chased down Keiwan Ratliff, who intercepted the pass, and drove into him with his left shoulder.
“If I let him go,” Portis said, “I’m sitting in the meeting tomorrow getting yelled at. … A lot of guys said, ‘Good technique, but what were you thinking?’ ”
Gibbs called the decision on how much to play guys in the preseason a “balancing act.”
“Our philosophy has been to get the starters good work, limit what they get,” he said, “and then get them out of there healthy. … Maybe someday we’ll come up with something better than this.”
