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Taylor Sprains Knee in First Practice With Redskins

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 28, 2004; 1:54 PM


Safety Sean Taylor, the fifth overall pick of the draft, suffered what Coach Joe Gibbs believes is a minor sprain of his right knee during Washington Redskins passing camp today, while safety Dennard Wilson could miss a substantial amount of time with what Gibbs said may be a broken left leg.


The team will not know the exact extent of the injuries until tomorrow, Gibbs said, as both players were undergoing medical tests through the afternoon. Taylor was participating in his first practice since signing a six-year contract worth a maximum of $40 million on Tuesday. Gibbs said the player, a projected starter, rolled out of bounds after trying to make a play during pass-coverage drills and needed medical attention. Gibbs stressed that the problem did not appear to be severe.

"I think Sean should be okay," Gibbs said.

Wilson, who played at the University of Maryland and was trying to crack the roster, was also injured during drills and Gibbs fears he could have a break around the ankle area. The Redskins begin training camp Saturday and it is unlikely Wilson will be able to participate.

"I think that's more serious," Gibbs said. "That one we're going to take a good, close look at."

Taylor received his initial influx of bonus money yesterday, receiving a roster bonus worth $730,000 and a significant portion of his $7.2 million signing bonus (the final installment of that payment comes in April). Taylor will receive an option bonus of $4.475 million next March and an option bonus of $640,000 in March of 2006, bringing his total to $13.045 million in bonuses paid over three years.

The Redskins are off the next two days, allowing the rookie time to recuperate. Players report for the start of training camp Friday and have two training sessions planned for Saturday. Players were not in full pads during this passing camp -- designed primarily to improve the timing between quarterbacks and receivers -- although many of the team's players not required to be on the field were at Redskins Park to work out anyway.

"I think we had real good work," Gibbs said. "Obviously, we didn't have all of our linemen here, but we had real good work. I thought we accomplished a lot."


© 2004 The Washington Post Company

Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. -- A day after signing a seven-year, $18 million contract, Washington Redskins rookie safety Sean Taylor sprained his right knee during practice Wednesday.

The team's first-round draft pick was hurt as he rolled out of bounds while defending a play near the end of the practice, which came on the final day of a three-day passing camp.

Coach Joe Gibbs said he didn't think the injury was serious, but that it had not been fully evaluated.

"I imagine they'll check it out every way you can check it out," Gibbs said.

Dennard Wilson, a free-agent rookie safety from Maryland, injured his left leg during the practice. Gibbs said Wilson's injury was more serious, leaving his status for training camp in doubt.

Taylor, the No. 5 overall draft pick from Miami, was taking part in his first practice since signing his contract. He is projected as the opening day starter at free safety.

The injury is the latest in a series of misadventures for Taylor, who fired his agent shortly after the draft and didn't hire a new one until last week. He also was fined $25,000 by the NFL for leaving a mandatory rookie symposium in June and suffered an eye injury during a minicamp prank when a pile of shaving gel was squirted into his face by linebacker LaVar Arrington.

Cornerback Fred Smoot was nearby when Taylor's injury occurred.

"He just went up to make a nice play on the ball--and he still made the play--but he tried to catch it and stay in bounds and it looked like he just twisted his knee," Smoot said. "It didn't look serious. He should be all right."

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:Sounds like Lav...er... I mean Sean needs to tone down his freelancing and highlight film moves, if he intends to play this season.

posse, quick to judge, wrote:HATER

and SSIII thought the same when he wrote:Hater indeed. Lavar's freelancing is a problem because it puts him out of position, not becauee it is an injury risk. If you aren't playing football at 100 mph, you aren't going to be an effective ballplayer...

I suppose his "play harrrd" and "hit harrd" mentality has really paid off, huh? How many championships have we won with him? Yet, we still manage to throw millions at him. Please.

Sean needs to hang out with a proven leader. Perhaps Smootie could help. I can't wait to see #37 wreak havoc in a controlled manner (oxymoron, maybe?). Can't wait to see him at camp, unless he sprains the knee again or runs into a pie.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Im moreso upset about Wilson than Sean. My favorite part of the offseason is evaluating the no name rookies. So many teams have these hidden gems, and I was hoping for Wilson to be one.

Then let's pray that it's only a sprain. I'd like to see the young terp make it, as well.

CLL, perhaps you should start a thread on "no names" to look out for. I'm sure it'd be interesting.

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:I suppose his "play harrrd" and "hit harrd" mentality has really paid off, huh? How many championships have we won with him? Yet, we still manage to throw millions at him. Please.

Sean needs to hang out with a proven leader. Perhaps Smootie could help.

Steve Spurrier III wrote:However, you seemed to imply that Taylor's "freelancing and highlight film moves" are going to get him hurt...

Wait...

Am I in the

thread? My bad.

He got hurt. Period. It may have been his freelancing, or it may have been the turf's fault. Bottom line: we can't afford to have him hurt before we get to see what he brings to an NFL field.

Steve Spurrier III wrote:Have you ever played football? On any level?

You seem to be saying that Sean Taylor shouldn't be going full speed during this passing camp. Am I wrong?

Chris Luva Luva wrote:I know that you always have to go 100% at all times, but sometimes there is too much. For example Bowens hit on Trung last year.

hailskins666 wrote:i'd rather know he got hurt giving it all, than to hear reports of how he looked as if he didn't care about what he was doing, a deer in headlights if you will.

I completley disagree. If you aren't pushing yourself in practice, you aren't making yourself better as a football player. Especially for a young player like Taylor. He isn't going to magically become a star, he needs to get reps and he needs to work hard. There is no doubt in my mind that Joe Gibbs would completley agree...

Steve Spurrier III wrote:Now I'm really confused. They shouldn't be going full speed because they aren't in pads? This is a passing camp, so tackling isn't involved. The play Taylor injured his play on wouldn't have been prevented if he was wearing pads.

You're reading waaaaay to deep into my posts. But, if we were to ponder the situation. Maybe the pads would have impeded the QB from making the right throw in Taylor's direction, thereby removing him from a situation where he could have been injured.

My point is, injuries sometimes happen in football. You can't just blame the player for being irresponsible...

Chris Luva Luva wrote:That said I do believe there are sometimes when guys do a bit too much and risk hurting themselves and others needlessly, that I frown upon.