Joe Gibbs' first preseason back with the Redskins got off to an ominous start when he lost one of his best and most reliable players, right tackle Jon Jansen.
Jansen's Achilles' tendon ruptured in Washington's 20-17 win over Denver in the Hall of Fame Game. While the six-year pro grappled with the prospect of a season on the shelf, Gibbs was left to shuffle his line.
"I guess it just goes to show you in pro sports, anything can happen," Gibbs said, referring to Jansen's history of missing just one down in the NFL. "When Jon went down, it was a big deal. He's a leader and a mainstay."
Surgery occurred for Jansen in Charlotte, N.C., two days after the injury. He is expected to wear a hard cast at least six weeks and be sidelined from football activities anywhere from four to six months.
Tougher than any physical pain for Jansen was the loss of his first season under Gibbs. The tackle had been consistently frustrated during Steve Spurrier's two-year tenure and, like the few Redskins who have been around for more than a year or two, he had grown tired of the club's constant upheaval.
Gibbs' return had provided a chance at success and continuity.
"It was frustrating because we tread water for three or four years, and not really go anywhere, and then things really start to look up," Jansen said. "Now you've got to watch it from the sideline. That's the part that hurts the most."
Kenyatta Jones is being given the first chance to win Jansen's spot. Jones started 12 games for the Patriots in 2002 and was considered a solid reserve in Washington. The Redskins also signed veteran guard Ray Brown, who could move into the starting lineup if Jones flops and the coaching staff decides to flip young left guard Derrick Dockery to right tackle.
A miscommunication with right guard Randy Thomas led to a sack by Carolina's Julius Peppers in Jones' first start in place of Jansen. Generally, though, Jones seemed to do a good job staying in front of his man in the 23-20 overtime loss and provided early promise that the patch job will work.
NOTES, QUOTES
—S Sean Taylor re-signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus and prepared for his contract situation to enter a new level of intrigue. Frustrated with the seven-year, $18 million deal negotiated by Jeff Moorad, Taylor intends to have his pact reworked next August, the earliest this year's rookies are permitted to re-do deals.
"I have talked to the team and they're gracious enough to entertain discussions at the appropriate time," Rosenhaus said. "And (Dan) Snyder is the type of owner who wants to be fair with his players. So I feel confident that when all the smoke clears and all (this year's first-round) deals are done, we'll be able to see to it that Sean's contract fits in where it should. We have some real issues with the way the deal was handled."
Rosenhaus' last comment referred to Moorad's announcement, shortly after the completion of Taylor's deal, that he will become CEO of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. Rosenhaus made it sound as though Moorad's move might be a way to have the deal re-opened before August.
"In light of what's happened with the primary negotiator of (Taylor's) contract leaving the business, it does raise some issues that we're looking into," Rosenhaus said.
—Coach Joe Gibbs continued to show virtually nothing in terms of scheme in the preseason. Both performances were exercises in tedium, as Gibbs hopes to save the "real" plays for the regular season. He also has closed training camp to fans and media so the team can practice strategy.
"You're trying to use good common sense in preseason," Gibbs said. "You're trying to do enough so you can evaluate your players. Obviously you don't want to do anything to jeopardize regular season."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to have to find somebody else to be a hero." — Coach Joe Gibbs, in the wake of RT Jon Jansen's season-ending Achilles' tendon tear.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Mark Brunell vs. Patrick Ramsey for starting QB — Brunell took a slight edge, thanks mostly to Ramsey's poor performance in starting against Carolina. Ramsey completed just four of 11 throws for 62 yards with an interception, a sack and two mishandled snaps.
Brunell, playing against reserves, hit WR Darnerien McCants for a 61-yard touchdown but otherwise struggled. The veteran remains the odds-on starter for the Sept. 12 opener against Tampa Bay but has done little to grab control of the job. He will start in Saturday's preseason game against Miami, while Ramsey is scheduled to go No. 1 Aug. 27 at St. Louis.
OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: S Sean Taylor is playing terrific but remains second-string, behind third-year pro Andre Lott. Taylor had a pair of interceptions in the Hall of Fame Game against Denver and a forced fumble against the Panthers.
Kenyatta Jones got the first shot at RT but the Redskins continued to consider moving LG Derrick Dockery there. Panthers DE Julius Peppers got a sack when Jones and RG Randy Thomas miscommunicated. Darnerien McCants lit it up against Panthers reserves (two catches, 78 yards, one score) and might push James Thrash for the No. 3 WR spot. H-back Mike Sellers continued to lead Brian Kozlowski and rookie Chrisey.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: S Sean Taylor's offseason of erratic off-field decisions is becoming a distant memory. Taylor picked off two throws in a preseason win over Denver, running one in for a 3-yard touchdown, and forced a fumble against Carolina. He is showing tremendous range in the deep secondary. Where he could have been distracted by negative publicity, he has thrived, letting his play speak for itself.
ROOKIE REPORT: First-round S Sean Taylor enjoyed a nice week and could ascend to the starting unit soon. Third-round H-back Chris
INJURY REPORT: T Jon Jansen blew out his left Achilles' tendon and will miss the 2004 season. ... TE Fred Baxter appeared to injure his knee seriously against Carolina. ... NT Brandon Noble (broken hand) played against Carolina, his first time in a game since the 2003 preseason, when he blew out a knee. ... LB Mike Barrow (knee) remained sidelined. It was unclear when he might return. ... KR Chad Morton (ankle) and P Tom Tupa (back) were late scratches from the Panthers game. Neither is believed to be seriously hurt. ... DE Phillip Daniels (abdomen) returned to individual drills in practice and should play at Miami. ... G Randy Thomas (ribs/knee) got back on the field to provide some continuity after the line lost Jansen. The ribs injury, a freak strain, is considered more worrisome. ... RB Ladell Betts (hamstring) can't get back on the field and certainly is losing ground to Sultan McCullough and Rock Cartwright. ... CB Rashad Bauman (hamstring) missed the Carolina game. ... CB Walt Harris (knee) is doing more post-practice work and could return in the near future. ... WR Taylor Jacobs (abdomen) returned to action but WR Cliff Russell (hamstring)
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