Redskins Insider

Horton to miss 4-6 weeks

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:25:59 -0500

Defensive back Chris Horton will be out four to six weeks and, possibly, four to six months because of an injury to his toe, Coach Jim Zorn said in his Monday news conference. Horton would be out for the longer period of time if the injury requires surgery and is a candidate for the injured-reserve list, Zorn said. Clinton Portis, who suffered a concussion Sunday, still has a headache and does not remember the play on which he was hurt. "I'd say he's doubtful for this week," Zorn said. "That's just my opinion." Mike Williams will be out at least two weeks because of a ligament tear in his ankle; he'll see the specialist who performed Chris Cooley's surgery. H.B. Blades, Jason Campbell and Stephon Heyer should all be okay, Zorn said. The Kansas City Chiefs have dumped running back Larry Johnson. Naturally, the possibility of signing with the Redskins

Famous last words about the O line

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:30:00 -0500

I was determined not to write about the offensive line for a while. Having written so much about the team's failure to address its biggest deficiency, I figured Insider readers were ready to move on. Then the Atlanta Falcons tied a franchise record with five first-half sacks to set the tone en route to a 21-point halftime lead in Sunday's 31-17 victory at the Georgia Dome. The unit did not give up a sack in the second half and opened holes in the running game for back Ladell Betts, who ran hard after Clinton Portis left the game because of a concussion. Washington had its two longest touchdown drives (80 and 81 yards) of the season in the second half and made things interesting until the defense again gave up another long touchdown run. I suppose some could find encouraging signs from the unit's play after halftime. But the reality

Redskins: Zorn 'went off' at halftime

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:33:18 -0500

I spoke with several players last night who said that Coach Jim Zorn "went off" at halftime in the visitors' locker room at the Georgia Dome. Obviously, Zorn was frustrated about the Redskins' shoddy overall performance to that point and the 24-3 deficit. He didn't confine his loud criticism to the offensive line (the Falcons tied a franchise record with five first-half sacks), instead blasting the entire team for its execution and lack of discipline. Zorn even reminded the Redskins "this is not Pop Warner," and he demanded they get it together as best they could after the break. The offense had its most spirited second-half performance of the season, but the defense faltered down the stretch in the 31-17 loss. Although the Redskins often have been in bad shape at halftime in Zorn's 24-game tenure, he has never displayed the emotion he did Sunday, the players said. "He hasn't

Betts supplies a boost the offense needed

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:12:49 -0500

Backup Ladell Betts provided a spark in the running game in Sunday's loss in Atlanta after Clinton Portis suffered a concussion in the first quarter and did not return. Betts displayed a burst rarely seen in the Redskins' rushing attack the last 16 games. He finished with a team-high 70 yards on 15 carries (a 4.7-yard average) and scored Washington's first touchdown in the third quarter on a 1-yard run on fourth down. poll by twiigs.com "Ladell ran hard and really got us going," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "When Clinton went out, we needed someone to pick us up and help the offense get into a rhythm. We needed to slow down their [pass] rush, and the best way to do that is to run the ball. Ladell really made a difference for us." Coach Jim Zorn declined to speculate on how long Portis might be sidelined, but given the

Cooley's replacements produce mixed results

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:45:00 -0500

With tight end Chris Cooley propped up on crutches, watching the team's latest loss from the sidelines, the Redskins got mixed results from his replacements. Veteran Todd Yoder scored a crucial touchdown in the fourth quarter that put the Redskins within striking distance, but second-year tight end Fred Davis mishandled a ball in the first quarter, which led to a Falcons' score. Quarterback Jason Campbell targeted Davis late in the opening quarter. Though the throw was a bit high, Davis said he could've caught it. Instead, the ball bounced off his hands and into the hands of Falcons cornerback Tye Hill, who returned the interception 62 yards for Atlanta's second touchdown. "I messed up on one play the whole game. Everything else was pretty solid for me," Davis said. "I just wanted to come out and do whatever I could to make some plays and help the team. Just that

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Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:45:00 -0500

Mitchell finally gets to make his mark

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:30:00 -0500

In the preseason, rookie Marko Mitchell was the Redskins' leading receiver with 113 yards and three touchdowns in four games. But he'd been a non-factor in the regular season, inactive for five of the first seven games. Coaches told him Friday, though, that he'd see some playing time Sunday in Atlanta. He thought he'd be used primarily in the red zone but in the second half, the Redskins used him in a variety of situations. On the team's first touchdown drive, Mitchell had an 11-yard catch on first down, which put Washington on the Atlanta 25-yard line. Then in the fourth, he had another 11-yard reception, this time coverting a third down. "It felt real good," said Mitchell, a seventh-round pick out of Nevada. "It's been a long process, long time coming. So I felt good about the way things went." Mitchell was targeted just twice, but that's the same

Punt returns end up being a non-factor

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:15:00 -0500

There was a tremendous amount of discussion at Redskins Park during the week about who would return punts for Washington. Coach Jim Zorn initially said he would rely on cornerback DeAngelo Hall, turning away from regular returner Antwaan Randle El, but then reversed course during the week, declaring Randle El his main guy. The issue was a non-factor in the game. Randle El went back to receive the first punt of the day, on which he signaled a fair catch. The play was nullified because of a penalty on the Redskins. Hall, though, got more work. He made a fair catch on an Atlanta punt early in the second quarter, and his only return attempt came in the second half, when the Redskins had pulled within 24-10. He caught the ball at the 21 near the left hash and ran backwards and right. He was corralled easily, losing two yards

Zorn: Redskins will be cautious with Portis

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:55:57 -0500

Running back Clinton Portis was knocked out of Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter, suffering an apparent concussion on a run that was later called back because of a holding call. Portis, the Redskins' leading rusher on the season, took the ball from quarterback Jason Campbell and ran over left tackle with three minutes, 26 seconds left in the first quarter and the Redskins trailing 7-0. Center Casey Rabach held on the play, but Portis fell hard to the Georgia Dome turf when he was tackled by Atlanta defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Thomas DeCoud. Portis lay face-down on the turf for a few seconds before team athletic trainers rolled him over. Coach Jim Zorn said Portis was "knocked out." "You tell me what happened," Portis said after the game. "I don't remember what happened."

Defense comes up short as Redskins lose

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:03:15 -0500

In an odd twist, it was the Redskins' offense that battled back and their high-priced defense that let them down late in Sunday's 31-17 loss at Atlanta. On a day on which the Redskins matched their season-high with 17 points scored, they also allowed a season-high 31. The game marked the team's fourth straight loss. The Washington offense put together second-half scoring drives of 80 yards and 81 - the team's longest touchdown drives of the season - and suddenly, just a couple of minutes into the final quarter, the Redskins trailed the Falcons by just one touchdown. But the defense couldn't stop Atlanta when it needed to. Michael Turner slipped through an obstacle course of Washington defenders - LaRon Landry and DeAngelo Hall both failed to wrap him - and ran 58 yards into the end zone.

Redskins enter 4th quarter down by 14

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:16:14 -0500

The Redskins began the third quarter with as many total yards as they had yards in penalties (69). Top back Clinton Portis was on the bench with a concussion, and quarterback Jason Campbell was returning to the field after being driven out of the game with a bruised chest on the last of the five sacks he suffered in the first half. So what did the Redskins do? They came up with one of their only consistent, productive drives of the season. The drive began with a key third-down scramble from Campbell, who picked up 19 yards when he needed five. On third and 1 near midfield, new play-caller Sherman Lewis opted for a play-action pass to fullback Mike Sellers, who gained 11 yards to keep the drive alive. Campbell found Portis's replacement, Ladell Betts, for a 23-yard gain on a screen play that got the ball to the Atlanta

Give us your take

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:48:40 -0500

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Redskins hit a low in first half

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:43:26 -0500

We'll start with the good news because there's not much of it, and it shouldn't take too long: The Redskins scored points in the second quarter - a 48-yard field goal off the foot of Shaun Suisham (who's quietly having a good year). But they still trailed the Falcons 24-3 at the break. The bad news is they've lost their starting running back and temporarily lost quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell was sacked five times in the first half and on the fifth, he didn't get up. He suffered a chest contusion and left the game for the Redskins' final offensive play of the half. He was replaced by Todd Collins but is expected to return for the second half. If Washington's horrid pass protection doesn't improve, you have to wonder how long he can last in there. The Falcons tied a team record for the most sacks in the first

Portis out with concussion

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:52:37 -0500

Running back Clinton Portis suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the Redskins' game at Atlanta and will not return to the game, the team announced early in the second quarter. Portis, the Redskins' leading rusher, broke through the left side of the line on a second-and-12 play from the Atlanta 36 yard line. Center Casey Rabach was called for holding on the play, and Portis fell hard to the turf as he was tackled by Atlanta defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Thomas DeCoud. Portis lay face down on the turf and motionless for a bit. He then rolled over and was eventually helped up and off the field. He carried four times for four yards in the first quarter. Ladell Betts will see most of the action the rest of the way, though third-stringer Rock Cartwright caught a pass late in the first quarter.

Portis injured as Redskins trail 14-0

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:44:26 -0500

The Falcons got the ball to start the game, gained five yards without even running a play -- Albert Haynesworth jumped offsides -- and quickly moved downfield. After a 33-yard run by running back Michael Turner gave Atlanta a first down at the Washington 17, the Redskins' defense stiffened a bit, and forced a fourth-and-1 situation at the 8. The Falcons appeared content to try to draw the Redskins offside, but ultimately call timeout and kick a field goal. But Haynesworth bit on the hard count of Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, and suddenly the Falcons had first and goal from the 4. Two plays later, Ryan found tight end Tony Gonzalez on a play-action pass, and the Falcons led 7-0 after a 74-yard drive. The Redskins' first possession: 1-yard run from Clinton Portis, no gain for Portis, and a sack of Jason Campbell by Atlanta defensive end Kroy Biermann, who

Inactive list includes Rinehart, Westbrook

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:29:14 -0500

The Redskins' inactives today are Hunter Smith, Kevin Barnes, Byron Westbrook, Eddie Williams, Chris Cooley, Chad Rinehart, Anthony Montgomery and Renaldo Wynn.