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Samuels Move Expected
During the bye week that will begin Tuesday, the Washington Redskins are expected to assign Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels to the season-ending injured-reserve list.
"He'll probably go on injured reserve so we can get that roster spot," Coach Jim Zorn said Saturday. "We need a spot, too, and yet nothing has been determined. We're still talking through things."
After learning he could become paralyzed if he continues to play, Samuels has told people in the organization that he will sit out the remainder of the season and plans to retire. In a statement on his behalf released by the team Friday, the 10-year veteran, who suffered a serious neck injury two weeks ago against Carolina and also suffers from a narrowing of the spine, said he would continue to seek medical advice and had not made any decisions about his future in football.
Recently signed tackle Levi Jones is "likely to be activated" for Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field, Zorn said.
Preparing for Vick
The Redskins will face quarterback Michael Vick for the first time since his reinstatement and they have prepared to try to stop him in the Wildcat formation.
"To me, I think when you look at him, he's getting back" to being the force he once was, secondary coach Jerry Gray said. "When you look at a guy who's kind of been away from football, and he gets seven or eight plays, you really can't get in detail what he's really good at it."
Philadelphia has used Vick sparingly. In three games, he has attempted only five passes, completing one for one yard. He also has run the ball six times for 13 yards (a 2.2-yard average). Cornerback Byron Westbrook has played the role of Vick on Washington's scout team this week.
In 2006 with the Falcons -- Vick's last season -- he passed for almost 2,500 yards and rushed for more than 1,000. He still possesses the skills to be a threat, Gray said.
"The more plays he plays, the better he's going to get," Gray said. "The old Michael Vick will come back."
And now there's Celek
Eagles wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are big-time deep threats on the edge for quarterback Donovan McNabb, and running back Brian Westbrook has been among the game's best all-around performers for some time. Now, tight end Brent Celek is emerging as another force on offense. In five games, the third-year player has 30 receptions for 378 yards (a 12.6-yard average) and two touchdowns.
"They have great guys around him," Gray said. "When you have Maclin, Jackson, Westbrook and McNabb, you can't double everyone. Then all of a sudden the tight end has big numbers and he has a lot of catches.
"Those guys are really good around him, so you can't think that somebody is going to get off. The big thing is you have to minimize what the other guys do and make him beat you. If that is the case, then fine, but you can't let Maclin, Jackson, Westbrook and those guys beat you."
Injury report
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall (knee) sat out Saturday's practice. Running back Clinton Portis (ankle) participated in practice and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (ankle) was limited. All three are expected to play Monday night. . . . As is typical on the weekend before a "Monday Night Football" game in the home team's city, the broadcasting crew, including Jon Gruden, Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Suzy Kolber, was at Redskins Park.
-- Jason Reid and Rick Maese





