1. Returner Brandon Banks will see the Redskins team physician, Dr. James Andrews, about his ailing left knee. Coach Mike Shanahan said Andrews performed the surgery on Banks’ knee in November.
Banks practiced Monday, but had to leave after running a few routes because his knee started to bother him. He sat out Tuesday and was not at practice Wednesday.
“He was swollen after a few routes [Monday],” Shanahan said. “That’s not a good sign.”
2. Placekicker Graham Gano left practice early Wednesday because his wife went into labor. The Redskins signed Clint Stitser to kick vs. Indianapolis Friday. The 26-year-old Stitser made seven of eight field goals for Cincinnati last season.
2A: The Redskins also claimed linebacker Thaddeus Gibson off waivers late Wednesday night. Here’s the story.
3. Running back Ryan Torain didn’t do much in practice, but Shanahan is optimistic that he’ll practice next week. But Shanahan said he doesn’t think Torain will be ready to play before the preseason finale.
4. Shanahan said he wasn’t sure how much Rex Grossman would play, if at all, vs. Indianapolis. John Beck will start at quarterback and likely play the first half –as Grossman did vs. Pittsburgh. My sense, in talking to a couple league sources, is that Shanahan really does think Beck is better. But Beck still has to show something on the field.
4. Other players not expected to play Friday: linebacker London Fletcher (hamstring/groin), corner Josh Wilson (hamstring/groin), safety LaRon Landry (Achilles), safety Kareem Moore (knee) and tight end Chris Cooley (knee).
Shanahan said Landry might practice Sunday; he won’t know about Landry’s status for the third preseason game until watching him work.
5. The Redskins were happy when their nose tackles last season held their ground. Rushing the quarterback wasn’t expected. It is now with Barry Cofield.
Haslett liked how Cofield could go from playing for the run on a play to rushing the passer.
“He had some giddy-up,” Haslett said. “And he got to the quarterback, which maybe you don’t get from a conventional nose. He has great hand usage, staying square, a powerful guy. He’s exactly what you’re looking for in a nose.
“We had a couple hits on the quarterback from [nose tackle] last week and I don’t think we had a hit last year.”
6. Linebacker Rocky McIntosh was named in the Yahoo report detailing allegations by a jailed Miami booster (as was late Redskins safety Sean Taylor). McIntosh allegedly accepted $500 for bounties (on big plays in games) and also visited Nevin Shapiro’s yacht and went to nightclubs on numerous occasions with him.
“I’m focused on Indy right now,” McIntosh said. “We got a game in two days and I’m in the NFL. You got to be a professional and worry about what we got right now.
“I play for the Washington Redskins and I’m just trying to help my team win.”
Rookie receiver Leonard Hankerson said he never saw Shapiro hanging around.
“I don’t know him, I never met the guy at all,” said Hankerson, whose name was not included in the report.
As for his feelings on the school he played for: “Man, I’m always going to feel the same. I don’t regret being there or nothing. I mean, stuff happens, and I guess stuff happened there so I can’t do anything about it now.”
7. Haslett took a positive spin on not having three of his starting members of the secondary available for Friday’s game. It gives players such as DeJon Gomes more time.
“He was hesitant in the practice the first week,” Haslett said. “He wasn’t sure, kind of learning in a new spot. We overloaded him, playing dime, nickel and then scaling back and letting him play safety and he has a sack, three tackles for a loss and does a great job. That’s what you get. It’s a good evaluation.”
8. The Redskins did a lot of scout team work in practice Wednesday, and even used piped-in crowd noise to get them used to playing in a dome.
9. First pass Beck threw in the red zone? Low and wide to receiver Santana Moss at the goal-line.
10. Most days before practice gets going, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan works off to the side with linebackers coach Lou Spanos, going over how to react in coverage with his hands and feet.
11. Now that Doug Worthington is going against better players he’s not standing out as much, which isn’t a surprise. Chris Chester didn’t have much problem with him. But Worthington did use quick hands to get around center Donovan Raiola.
12. Saw Will Montgomery handle Cofield in the one-on-ones. Cofield tried to use his hands to get around him, but Montgomery stuffed him.
13. Erik Cook showed a strong base in one matchup vs. rookie Chris Neild. Cook has done a better job lately of staying low, albeit against backups. Did see Anthony Bryant slap him in the head with a powerful paw to beat him. Oh, and haven’t seen a whole lot out of Neild lately.
14. Sean Locklear allowed Darrion Scott to get inside him at left tackle. OK; Scott’s not bad. But then he let Jeff Stehle to get inside him. I know I’ve written that Jammal Brown looks quicker than last year, but I still have questions about what level he can play at. Just want to see more of him because every time I think he looks good, I see him not getting his hands on guys quick enough. But he is moving his feet better.
15. Rookie Maurice Hurt allowed Bryant to get around him because he couldn’t react to his quick hands. Hurt got pushed back another time. He’s up and down, as you’d expect of a rookie seventh-rounder.
16. Guard Artis Hicks has done a better job of staying low, but he typically only fares well vs. backups.
17. Saw something I haven’t seen all camp: Jabar Gaffney dropped a pass. Guessing it’ll be a while before I see that again.
