1. Left tackle Trent Williams said Sunday night that he had not torn any ligaments. He was right. All he suffered was a grade one sprain of his left MCL, which means there’s a chance he’ll play at Seattle on Sunday.
2. Corner Josh Wilson, who exited Sunday in the fourth quarter, has a grade one strain of his hamstring. He, too, might play Sunday.
3. Coach Mike Shanahan said he hopes safety LaRon Landry, who did not play Sunday because of a sore Achilles, can practice this week. Landry did not practice at all last week. Landry had said Friday that he felt fine and that if he didn’t play it was not his call. It usually isn’t. But Shanahan said Landry told him during the week that he couldn’t practice. And it’s tough for anyone to play when they don’t practice. Maybe London Fletcher; not Landry.
4. Receiver Santana Moss, who has missed the past four games because of a broken left hand, said he will try to catch passes Wednesday. Last week Shanahan said he doubted Moss would be ready for the Seattle game. Receiver Niles Paul, who has turf toe, is unlikely to play either, Shanahan said.
5. Even though the Redskins lost Sunday, there was a boost in their confidence because of what the offense accomplished Sunday. It provides them hope that they can finish with something other than a long losing streak. Last week, Barry Cofield said things could get historically ugly if their play did not improve. Well, he took some heat within the organization because of that. He didn’t want to say who gave him the flak, but it’s probably not hard to figure out.
But Cofield said after Sunday, “Guys are swarming and playing hard. You can’t blame yesterday’s loss on a lack of effort. Guys are playing like we’re right in the hunt as opposed to a team that’s just trying to get a win. That’s promising.”
6. On to the time out controversy. Shanahan’s Cliff notes explanation: He wasn’t looking at the clock or holder Tony Romo when he called the time out. Rather, he says he looks at the long snapper and a soon as sees the snapper look forward, he calls time. It makes sense, but it also seems like there would be someone near him who is watching something else and could tell him. Keep in mind that had Shanahan not attempted his icing technique, it only would have been a 44-yard field goal. It also was only third down, so even though Dallas would have lost five yards they could have run another play to get it back.
7. Of all the reasons Washington lost, the botched time out ranks rather low. But it certainly didn’t look good.
8. A half-dozen veterans spoke up during the offensive meeting Saturday night, something that had not previously happened. Shanahan said he was told that they were going to do so.
9. Receiver Jabar Gaffney said he saw a look on QB Rex Grossman’s face Sunday. “You could see it, he just had that confidence and that look in his eye like he was ready to go. You definitely pick up on it and feed off it.”
10. Grossman likes to throw off trust, getting rid of the ball before a receiver breaks. “He does a great job anticipating,” Gaffney said. “It gets him in trouble sometimes. But a lot of times it works out because as soon as you come out of your break the ball’s right there.”
11. Shanahan on Graham Gano’s misses: “Very disappointed. Like everybody – you have to perform and you’re hoping that he performs at a high level. [When he] gets the opportunities you want him to convert. If you don’t take advantage of those opportunities then you don’t kick in the National Football League very long. We all know that. It’s a pressure job and you’re always hoping that a guy comes through and if you don’t come through enough then you lose your job, just like every other position.”
12. But don’t look for them to do anything with Gano. There just aren’t many options. How bad is it out there? Shayne Graham, cut by the Redskins after a dreadful training camp, was just signed by Miami.
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