Redskins wide receiver Jamison Crowder will not play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys due to an ankle injury that kept him out of last week’s win over the Carolina Panthers.
“I know he has the ankle and some guys will recover quicker than others,” Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said. “But for a slot, for him to change direction with confidence, we’ll have to wait and see. He’s going to be very diligent in his rehab and I would expect him to be back sooner than later. But still, it could take a little time.”
Wide receiver Paul Richardson (shoulder/knee) and safety Troy Apke (hamstring) were listed as doubtful. Richardson did not practice all week and saw doctors again Thursday for swelling in the knee. There was no structural damage to the joint, but the team might opt to be especially cautious with a player who has had two knee surgeries.
“His knee was bothering him a little bit and then he aggravated it a little bit more,” Gruden said of Richardson. “You know, he just hasn’t had the ability to really come out of his cuts quite like he wants to right now. So, we’re trying to give him a week here and we’ll see how he runs tomorrow. He is doubtful. But I think the big thing for him longevity-wise for this season [is] … we have to get to the bottom of what he has.
“Just has a little swelling, a little irritation. We're just trying to find out how to relieve that irritation for him."
Apke returned to practice Friday on a limited basis, but is unlikely to play Sunday. He has after not played since the season opener.
Running back Adrian Peterson (shoulder/ankle), running back Chris Thompson (rib/knee), guard Shawn Lauvao (calf), cornerback Quinton Dunbar (shin) and cornerback Danny Johnson (forearm) are all listed as questionable.
Peterson was limited the last two days of practice, but that might become a regular occurrence for the 33-year-old veteran. Peterson said earlier this week he feels better than he did last week, when he played against Carolina.
Thompson was limited in each practice this week. Gruden called him “very limited” in Friday’s session.
“I think with where he is with the injury, where it is on his knee and all that stuff, we still want to limit him,” Gruden said. “Get him in individual [drills], do some cuts, some soft cuts and all that stuff, and then get a good look at him pregame warm-up, see where he’s at.
“Yeah, [practice] matters a lot, especially for his position, with all the things he has to do as far as running routes on linebackers or safeties or whatever it is and also pass protection and seeing the cuts he has to make. Fortunately, he's been here for a while, so if there's a few guys on our team that can probably play effectively without practicing, I'd say he'd be one of them. But I'm sure he still would rather practice than not practice, but it’s just where we are."
Gruden added that Lauvao, who has missed the last three games, did “a lot” in Friday’s limited practice. The team wants to see how his calf will respond Saturday.
Dunbar is a new addition to the injury list, with what Gruden called a shin contusion. The team is taking a wait-and-see approach with the cornerback. The decision could come down to pain management.
“Knowing [Dunbar], he’ll probably be all right, but we’ll see,” Gruden said.
The Redskins will look at Johnson, Greg Stroman and Adonis Alexander if Dunbar can’t go, preferring to leave Fabian Moreau in the slot.
Johnson’s status is up in the air. The rookie was optimistic, but whether he plays is likely to be a team decision. He was no longer in a traditional cast Friday and was instead wearing a hard, protective piece that ran from wrist to elbow.
The Cowboys will be without receiver Tavon Austin (groin) and linebacker Joe Thomas (foot). Neither practiced all week. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (ankle) was listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week.
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