MTK
12-22-2004, 04:45 PM
When kicker John Hall tore his right quadriceps recently, he became the ninth Washington Redskins player to be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list this season, personifying Washington's injury woes. An eight-year veteran, Hall had never missed missed a game because of injuries, but, after playing through hamstring pulls, Hall missed five games before making a short-lived comeback.
That's typical of the Redskins' season, with every position group except for wide receiver, tight end and punter being stricken by at least one serious injury.
"I can't say ever in my whole career have I ever seen that many starters go down," said linebacker LaVar Arrington, who missed 10 games before making a return in last week's 26-16 victory (javascript:ol('http://letters.washingtonpost.com/WBRH041BC32410875E17F3F02A78C0');) over the San Francisco 49ers (javascript:ol('http://letters.washingtonpost.com/WBRH041BC33400875E17F3F02A78C0');). "It's a character-building year to be the No. 2 defense. You've got guys stepping up to the plate and really trying to make a difference, and making a difference."
Arrington suffered a bone bruise in Week 2 that caused him to have arthroscopic surgery. Arrignton initially was supposed to miss two to four weeks but aggravated the injury in his first practice trying to make a return.
Washington has had the no. 2 defense despite injuries such as Arrington's. Middle linebacker Mike Barrow, 34, had only missed five games in his NFL career but didn't play this season because of knee tendinitis. Strong safety Matt Bowen was placed on injured reserve after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 5. And right defensive end Phillip Daniels missed most of the season because of groin problems.
Washington's first major injury occurred in the preseason opener when right tackle Jon Jansen ruptured his Achilles tendon, and was placed on the injured list.
Although other NFL teams have been beset by injuries as well, Joe Gibbs said he has never coached a team that suffered so many injuries. And the ailments have been striking partly because the Redskins last season had a relatively healthy year.
"We thought back on that one. Matter of fact, I think last year, [owner] Dan [Snyder] was counting [and] three guys [were] all that missed [long-term]," Gibbs said. "I think it's all unusual. It kind of goes along with everything else that's happened to us this year. I look at the plus side of it: We're getting to look at a lot of people. There's obviously a big negative . . . . But it's something you have to deal with."
-- Nunyo Demasio
That's typical of the Redskins' season, with every position group except for wide receiver, tight end and punter being stricken by at least one serious injury.
"I can't say ever in my whole career have I ever seen that many starters go down," said linebacker LaVar Arrington, who missed 10 games before making a return in last week's 26-16 victory (javascript:ol('http://letters.washingtonpost.com/WBRH041BC32410875E17F3F02A78C0');) over the San Francisco 49ers (javascript:ol('http://letters.washingtonpost.com/WBRH041BC33400875E17F3F02A78C0');). "It's a character-building year to be the No. 2 defense. You've got guys stepping up to the plate and really trying to make a difference, and making a difference."
Arrington suffered a bone bruise in Week 2 that caused him to have arthroscopic surgery. Arrignton initially was supposed to miss two to four weeks but aggravated the injury in his first practice trying to make a return.
Washington has had the no. 2 defense despite injuries such as Arrington's. Middle linebacker Mike Barrow, 34, had only missed five games in his NFL career but didn't play this season because of knee tendinitis. Strong safety Matt Bowen was placed on injured reserve after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 5. And right defensive end Phillip Daniels missed most of the season because of groin problems.
Washington's first major injury occurred in the preseason opener when right tackle Jon Jansen ruptured his Achilles tendon, and was placed on the injured list.
Although other NFL teams have been beset by injuries as well, Joe Gibbs said he has never coached a team that suffered so many injuries. And the ailments have been striking partly because the Redskins last season had a relatively healthy year.
"We thought back on that one. Matter of fact, I think last year, [owner] Dan [Snyder] was counting [and] three guys [were] all that missed [long-term]," Gibbs said. "I think it's all unusual. It kind of goes along with everything else that's happened to us this year. I look at the plus side of it: We're getting to look at a lot of people. There's obviously a big negative . . . . But it's something you have to deal with."
-- Nunyo Demasio