ASHBURN — The Redskins’ season took a predictable turn: They returned to their original starting quarterback. Then it took another disappointing one: They lost yet another offensive starter to a season-ending injury.
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Rookie receiver Leonard Hankerson, who played a promising game Sunday, suffered a torn labrum in his right hip and will miss the rest of the season. This after he provided a jolt for the offense in Sunday’s 20-9 loss to Miami.
The player throwing him those passes, quarterback Rex Grossman, will continue as the starter. After being a surprise starter vs. the Dolphins, coach Mike Shanahan said Grossman would start again Sunday against Dallas instead of John Beck.
– John Keim
| Notes |
| » Defensive end Kedric Golston suffered a third-degree MCL tear and a partial tear of an ACL in his knee and could miss substantial time. Coach Mike Shanahan would rule Golston out only for Sunday and said there was still some question about how much time he would miss. Golston had played well in a reserve role as the third end. |
| » Right tackle Jammal Brown remains a “long shot” to play vs. Dallas on Sunday, Shanahan said. Brown missed the Miami loss with a groin injury. Shanahan said he’s still not sure whether running back Tashard Choice will play against his former team. Choice has been bothered by a hamstring injury. |
| » Shanahan said receiver Santana Moss might be able to play vs. Seattle on Nov. 27. He already has missed three games with a broken bone in his left hand. Also, receiver Niles Paul (turf toe) said he no longer needs a walking boot but has not yet run at full speed and is uncertain whether he will be ready for the Dallas game. |
Grossman completed 21 of 32 passes for 215 yards but was intercepted twice.
“Grossman’s much more comfortable,” Shanahan said. “He’s a little bit more confident. He’s been under the gun a lot more than John has. [Grossman] played with a lot of confidence and made a bunch of good throws throughout the game.
“I like John’s talent. I like what we have in John, but I’m going to do what is in the best interest of the team to win.”
Shanahan said the heavy injuries to the offense put Beck, who is 30 but has made just seven starts, in a tough situation. Shanahan would not say whether Grossman would have returned earlier had he not dealt with pneumonia. But Grossman really didn’t recover until shortly before the San Francisco game.
There was more support for Grossman in the locker room as well.
“We usually have a good feel on how the players react and feel,” Shanahan said.
Meanwhile, Hankerson becomes the fourth key offensive player who will end the season on injured reserve, joining tight end Chris Cooley (knee), left guard Kory Lichtensteiger (knee) and running back Tim Hightower (knee). Two other offensive starters remain sidelined: right tackle Jammal Brown and receiver Santana Moss.
Hankerson will see a specialist after the swelling subsides to determine whether he needs surgery. The recovery time could be as much as four months.
Hankerson, a third-round pick in April, caught eight passes for 106 yards Sunday, the most by a Redskins wide receiver this season.
“He played a great game, and he’s got big upside,” Shanahan said. “I like the way he works. He was devastated, but he’ll work through it. … The way he practiced, you could see a light go on and you could see his competitiveness.”
This just adds to a season that turned ugly a couple weeks ago. Washington has lost five straight games.
“There’s no guarantee that we can win another game,” Redskins nose tackle Barry Cofield said. “If we don’t play better, there’s no reason to expect to win any games. The ball’s not gonna bounce our way. So it could get very ugly. It could get historically ugly. Hopefully guys are fearful of that. Hopefully guys focus in and do what it takes to get a win because if we don’t it will be a very long winter.
“There’s no magic saying. There’s nothing you can pull out of a hat to make things better. Everyone has to play better. Only a win can get you out of a funk like this.”
