Jansen Plans to Help Team Despite Season-Ending Injury
Injured tackle Jon Jansen began the arduous process of getting used to being a spectator Saturday night when he watched the Redskins fall, 23-20, to Carolina in overtime at FedEx Field. Jansen had started 80 straight games since being drafted out of the University of Michigan in 2000 but was lost of the season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the preseason opener Monday.
Jansen, who was back Monday at Redskins Park on crutches, is going to work with the coaches and his teammates to aid their cause but is not expected to be able to get on the field for at least six months. He could be off the crutches in about six weeks, however, and plans to be a presence around the team by then.
"Once I can get around and not be hobbling so much, I'll be out there a lot more and still be a part of this team and contribute as much as I can," Jansen said. "It was really tough the other night to watch the guys play and not be a part of it. They're at the party and I didn't get the invite. That's the toughest part, but I'll be back next year and I'll be back this year with being able to help the guys out."
Jansen did not miss a play while at Michigan and has never had to endure an injury like this before. He felt the offensive line, with Kenyatta Jones now starting at right tackle, held up well Saturday against Carolina's fierce defensive line. Randy Thomas also returned from injury to the starting right guard spot, and there will surely be an adjustment on that side of the line with the new personnel.
"I think they played aggressively," Jansen said of the offensive line. "Obviously, there are still a lot of areas that they still need to work on, but thankfully we have an extra preseason game and that's going to work in our favor. . . . Kenyatta has played right tackle before. Obviously, he's never played next to Randy, so there's going to be a feeling out process. But it's easier to plug one guy in than five guys together. So the group will take him in and bring him along."
Jansen will be joining his teammates at meetings, watching film and paying close attention during games to pass along any pointers and help the linemen prepare for upcoming opponents.
TV Ratings Up
The Redskins' preseason home opener on Saturday night posted an overnight rating of 18.2 at its peak, according to a team news release, outdrawing the Olympics in the Washington area. The game was broadcast by WUSA 9 and Comcast SportsNet HDTV and went up against the first night of prime time Olympic coverage. The game achieved an average household rating of 14.7 and a 23 share for WUSA. Last season's preseason opener, also against Carolina, drew a 11.9 household rating. Much of this year's additional viewership is being attributed to the return of Coach Joe Gibbs.
Barrow Out Again
Linebacker Mike Barrow (tendonitis in knee) again missed practice Monday and said there is no firm timetable for his return. Barrow, who suffered the injury originally during a passing camp at the end of July, saw a knee specialist recently for a second opinion and has been out about a week now, unable to put pads on for drills. "It's kind of frustrating," Barrow said. "I don't have any idea of when I'm going to play, but we're doing everything possible we can do. Right now, it's just taking some time." . . . Tight end Fred Baxter did not take the field Monday, wearing a brace on his injured right knee. Cornerback Rashad Bauman (hamstring), cornerback Rufus Brown (quadriceps contusion), linebacker Chris Clemmons (hamstring), wide receiver Cliff Russell (hamstring), running back Chad Morton (sore ankle), receiver James Thrash (tight hamstring) and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (sore groin) also missed practice and are listed as day-to-day, Tyer said.
-- By Jason La Canfora and Nunyo Demasio
Tendinitis Sidelines Barrow
The Redskins are taking every precaution with linebacker Mike Barrow as he seeks to return from a spell of tendinitis in his left knee. The veteran, who led the New York Giants in tackles last season before being signed as a free agent, has not played in either preseason game thus far and has not practiced in over a week.
Barrow, 34, said he is eager to get back on the field and would do so if medically possible. A visit with a knee specialist confirmed the tendinitis. There is no time frame for a return.
The middle linebacker won't play Saturday in Miami and team officials are working closely with Barrow to get a feel for how he is coming along and to make sure they do not aggravate the injury. Barrow said his knee first flared up during a passing camp at the end of July -- a few days before the start of full training camp -- then hurt the knee again during practice on Aug. 7. He has not returned to drills since.
In the beginning of training camp, I thought I could go and I just pushed through it and I made it worse. . . . If I was smart about it and understood the nature of the injury, I wouldn't have pushed it, but I pushed it and I made it worse to where now I can't go. So it's not one of these things where they're just sitting me out because it's the preseason; I won't allow them to do that and I won't do that. It's just one of those things where I can't go."
Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense, said he is not overly concerned about Barrow's absence from the practices because of his intelligence, experience and knowledge of this particular defense. Barrow is on the sidelines for every practice, working with the linebackers and coaches. The objective is to get Barrow on the field for two of the three remaining preseason games, although it is uncertain how many snaps he would play in any game given the nature of the injury.
"He's a real professional on how he trains off the field ... and in the meetings. So the fact that he's not getting bumps and bruises and the wear and tear of training camp, that doesn't worry me at all," Williams said. "Right now he's better than some of our coaches; trust me, he knows me and he knows what I want and why I want it and he's communicating. You can hear him out on the field. He's communicating and making the calls from the sidelines, and the other guys are communicating and mimicking him when they're out there."
Barrow played four season for Williams with Houston and has missed only two games over the past eight seasons. He was signed as an unrestricted free agent in April. Barrow excelled against Washington last season -- with 25 total tackles in two games -- and wants to ensure his knee is healthy enough to play when the regular season begins Sept. 12.
"It's taking a little time," Barrow said, "but we're doing everything we can. So I'm just praying and giving it to God, and he knows when it's time, and we'll take it from there."
Injuries Mount
The growing list of hurting players is becoming problematic. Coach Joe Gibbs said none of the injuries seem to be serious, but some have lingered for weeks. Balancing the need to learn a new system and playbook and the desire to keep players fresh is a daily challenge.
"We'll just have to see how these guys bounce back the next few days. . . . It's probably the number one thing a football coach has a fear of. How much to do you work? How hard do you work? Do you back off and not develop some of the things you want to develop? You run a risk there, it's one of the hardest things we do. We try to balance how hard do you go? When do you go? How much hard work? And if we're going to try to develop certain things, you have to go hard with them, yet you know when you do that you have a chance for somebody to get nicked somewhere."
The players who missed both Tuesday training camp sessions are running back Clinton Portis (bruised thigh), linebacker Mike Barrow (tendinitis in knee), tight end Fred Baxter (knee), cornerback Rashad Bauman (hamstring), cornerback Rufus Brown (quadriceps contusion), linebacker Chris Clemmons (hamstring), linebacker Devin Lemons (turf toe), receiver Cliff Russell (hamstring), running back Chad Morton (sore ankle), and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (hip flexor).
Bubba Tyer, the team's director of sports medicine, said Portis will likely practice today. Barrow and Baxter are out for Saturday's game, while Brown, Bauman, Clemmons, Morton, Lemons and Russell are questionable. Griffin is expected to play.
Several players, including three-fifths of the starting offensive line, missed Tuesday's afternoon session. Tyer said all of them could return to practice today. They are linebacker LaVar Arrington (sore knee), tackle Chris Samuels (mild concussion), tackle Kenyatta Jones (ankle), guard Randy Thomas (knee), receiver Rod Gardner (finger and shoulder injuries), receiver Taylor Jacobs (abdominal strain) and receiver Darnerien McCants (sprained knee and ankle).
Defensive lineman Brandon Noble, who is recovering from major knee surgery, was held out of the second session and has been limited to one practice a day as a precaution; receiver Laveranues Coles (toe), Thomas and Jones are also on a program of no more than one practice a day, Tyer said.
Sanders May Come Back -- to Baltimore
The possible return of former Redskin Deion Sanders to the NFL had players talking Tuesday. Sanders, a star cornerback, spent his final season with Washington in 2000 before retiring on the eve of the 2001 season. "If Mike Tyson keep boxing, I know Prime Time can keep playing football," said cornerback Fred Smoot, who inherited No. 21 when Sanders retired. Receiver Rod Gardner also said he believes Sanders should return. The future Hall of Famer reportedly is mulling joining the Baltimore Ravens.
Other Notes
• Rookie safety Sean Taylor remains in a back-up role but may see some action with the first team on Saturday, Williams said.
• End Phillip Daniels, who was bothered by an abdominal injury at the start of the week, has put together strong practices this week, according to Williams, and should play between 10 and 14 snaps Saturday in Miami.
• Tyer said that the new NFL rules on revealing the specifics of all player injuries do not require teams to say whether an injury is to the right or left arm, knee, groin, etc., except when it pertains to a quarterback.
-- Jason La Canfora
