Redskins Injury Report: TE Derek Carrier Suffers Knee Injury

Redskins vs. Bears | Week 14 Highlights | NFL

CHICAGO The Redskins escaped Soldier Field with a 24-21 victory over the Chicago Bears and limited injuries.

The most serious injury was to tight end Derek Carrier, who was already fighting an Achilles tendon strain and a sore ankle. Carrier sustained a knee injury after catching a pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins with 2:37 left in the first quarter.

With JeRon Hamm inactive, only Jordan Reed and converted offensive tackle Tom Compton were available to play tight end once Carrier left the field. He did not return. He will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the damage.

Were checking [Carriers] knee, Redskins coach Jay Gruden said.

In other injury news, right tackle Morgan Moses missed some time while being evaluated for a concussion, but was allowed to return to the game. DeSean Jackson banged his knee and limped to the training table. He, too, returned to play.

Just a little sore, Gruden said of Jacksons injury.

Veteran defensive end Jason Hatcher (pinched nerve, ankle) played a limited role on Sunday, though he was active. Other injured players who were not active included running back Chris Thompson (shoulder), wide receiver Andre Roberts (knee), safety Jeron Johnson (hamstring) and linebacker Perry Riley, Jr. (broken foot).

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Source: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/12/13/redskins-injury-report-te-derek-carrier-suffers-knee-injury/

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To fix Redskins, Jay Gruden needs to get tough on locker-room behavior

The Redskins' hopes for a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dashed Sunday as the offensive line failed to protect quarterback Robert Griffin III. The Post's Gene w**g and Scott Allen give you their takeaways on the game. (Randolph Smith/The Washington Post)

When a team struggles to perform the most basic tasks as the Washington Redskins did during their comedy of errors in Sundays 27-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, its probably time for a new approach. Coach Jay Gruden must develop a tougher one.

While being dominatedon its home field by an opponent that lost eight of its first nine games, Washington continued to display an alarming lack of discipline.Many of the Redskins problems can be traced to their loosey-goosey culture.Thats on Gruden.

Jason Reid is a sports columnist with the Washington Post. He joined the Posts Redskins team in 2007 after 15 years covering many beats at the Los Angeles Times. View Archive

Head coaches set the tone, either through the force of their personalities or by whom they hire to help them lead.Although the straight-shooting Gruden isnt a pushover, hes definitely not the iron-fisted type. (None of his assistants are enforcers, either).

Once Grudens work is done, he likes to have a good time. Gruden trusts players to act similarly. The problem is Gruden has put too much trust in players who dont deserve it.

Among many mistakes Sunday, the Redskins had four false start penalties and another for an illegal formation because a player lined up on the wrong side of the field. Their failure to focus was indicative of their easy-going attitude and a leadership vacuum in the locker room. Repeatedly this season, the Redskins have displayed immaturity. Its time for them to grow up. It has to start with Gruden.

Gruden offered little public response following the Redskins festive antics after their 12th loss in 13 games earlier this season. Last week, he watched as players put up a toy hoop in the locker room and had a blast dunking during pickup games after practice, said reporters who were present. The Redskins are much more relaxed than a 3-7 team should be. Gruden doesnt seem to notice.

Theyre playing H-O-R-S-E in the locker room when practice is over. Yeah, when practice is over, Gruden said Monday. When meetings are over, meetings are over, whether they go home and play [video games] or study tape or have dinner with their wives and kids or have a quick game of H-O-R-S-E before they leave. Thats no reflection on how they perform on Sunday. Once the meetings and practice is over, they are free to unwind however they see fit.

Players arent robots. And theres nothing wrong with unwinding after a solid days work. Clearly, though, the Redskins arent getting their work done well.

Gruden inherited a roster in disrepair. President and General Manager Bruce Allen botched the offseason, failing to fill holes and opening more. Although Gruden was dealt a bad hand, he could play it better. Perhaps the Redskins would be more effective on the field if they had a little less fun off of it.

Lets not forget the Redskins have finished last in the NFC East five of the past six seasons and seven of the past 10. In the past eight seasons, they have no playoff victories. On Sunday, they were routed by hapless Tampa Bay, which had lost five straight, despite having two weeks to prepare. Under those circumstances, the hijinks dont look good.

The players who were basketball stars in the locker room werent among those penalized for mental gaffes against the Buccaneers. But it all adds up to an environment in which the whole team feels anything goes no matter how the groups actions might be perceived. Thats why many players recently felt emboldened to prevent reporters from interviewing Robert Griffin III by shouting in the locker room, prompting a team official to move the session into a hallway not very professional.

There have been issues in practice, too.Privately, some players have expressed concerns about teammates goofing off frequently. Again, though, Gruden likes what he sees.

The Post Sports Live crew discusses if expectations are different for the Redskins now that Robert Griffin III has returned. (Post Sports Live/The Washington Post)

I thought the effort was there, Gruden said of the teams preparation to face Tampa Bay. It just didnt carry over to Sunday for whatever reason.

But coaches have a saying: You play the way you practice. Perhaps Gruden is just seeing what he wants to see.

In an effort to get the results he wants on game day, Gruden should shake up his coaching staff in the offseason. Gruden needs someone to play the bad cop.Thats part of what Gregg Williams did for Joe Gibbs.

During Gibbss second stint with the Redskins, Williams ruled the defense with an iron fist. Williams commanded respect, former Redskins standouts LaVar Arrington and Shawn Springs often told me, and his hard-line approach helped create a culture that enabled the team to reach the playoffs twice in four seasons. These days, Redskins fans remember that time as glory years. Gruden could benefit from a no-nonsense right-hand man.

Any first-year head coach with a weak roster and a revolving door at quarterback would take pride in directing an offense that is tied for seventh in the NFL in yards per game. Theres no doubt about it: Gruden is good with Xs and Os. He has some growing to do, however, in being a leader, and how he goes about fixing the teams warped culture is his first big test.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/to-fix-redskins-jay-gruden-needs-to-get-tough-on-locker-room-behavior/2014/11/17/b58dd164-6e9b-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html

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Redskins-Buccaneers best and worst

Best and worst moments from Washingtons 27-7 loss to the Buccaneers at FedEx Field.

Worst title for a weekly game feature: Best and Worst, because then what do you do when there arent many bests to choose from? Get creative, I guess. (In all of the Redskins games hes covered, Im sure Dan Steinberg has made some version of this joke before, but this a 20-point loss to the 1-8 Buccaneers at home kinda felt like the worst of the worst. But maybe thats just me.)

Worst first play from scrimmage: Robert Griffin III didnt like his first read and pulled the ball down before being chased out of the pocket. Rolling to his left, Griffin threw low to Niles Paul, who bobbled the ball into the hands of Danny Lansanah. The Buccaneers turned the turnover into three points. We wouldve all been better off if officials declared the game over after that.

Best stat: This doesnt include his Pee-Wee, high school or college days, but Griffin had never thrown a pick on his first career pass attempt in 32 NFL games. So theres that. Lets hope it doesnt become a habit.

Worst second play from scrimmage: Technically, it wasnt a play, but a penalty a false start on wide receiver Pierre Garcon. It was going to be that type of day. Logan Paulsen and Leonard Hankerson, neither of whom are linemen, were both flagged for false starts later in the game.

Worst third drive: On third and sixfrom the Redskins 8-yard line, Griffins pass intended for Garcon was tipped by Mason Foster and intercepted by Johnthan Banks, who returned it for a touchdown. The only way the game couldve started any worse for Washington was if Griffin had injured his shoulder on his leaping attempt to knock Banks out of bounds near the goal line on the return.

Best QB:Josh McCown outplayed Griffin, completing 15 of 23 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. It helped that the Tampa Bay offensive line kept the veteran on his feet for most of the game. The Redskins had two sacks.

Worst injury: Redskins left tackle Trent Williams left the game in the first quarter after his former college teammate, 300-pound Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy appeared to step on his ankle. Williams a sprained knee diagnosed and did not return.

Worst offensive line: With Williams out of the game, the Redskins offensive line struggled mightily. The Bucs had a season-high six sacks, including a couple that forced Kai Forbath to attempt long field goals.

Worst kicks: Forbath missed both his attempts, from 47 and 50 yards.

Worst record: Normally, passing Ben Roethlisberger in the record book is a good thing, but not in this case. Griffin has now been sacked at least three times in an NFL record eight consecutive games. That might be acceptable if he sprinkled in a couple 500-yard, six-touchdown performances from time to time.

Best run: Alfred Morris was one of the few bright spots for the Redskins. He failed to crack the 100 yard barrier yet again, but finished with a season-high 96 yards on 20 carries, including a highlight reel-worthy 13-yard run in the second quarter.

Best or worst Superman: Depending on whether you prefer to see Griffin do exciting things, like leap over a would-be tackler on a 10-yard scramble as he did in the first quarter, or slide to protect his body.

Worst deja vu: Sunday marked the Redskins 10th regular season game against the Buccaneers since 2000, their most against any non-division opponent. d**k Stockton, who has broadcast more Redskins games than any other broadcaster over the past 26 games, was on the call for Fox.

Worst streak: The previous eight games between the Redskins and Bucs had been decided by one score or less.

Best false hope: The Redskins pulled to within 13-7 with 11 seconds leftin the first half when Roy Helu Jr. took a screen pass 30 yards for a touchdown.

Best rookie the Redskins probably shouldve covered: Mike Evans beat Ryan Clark and Bashaud Breeland deep for a third quarter touchdown that extended the Tampa Bay lead to 20-7. It was one of two touchdowns on the day for Evans, who was constantly open. The former Texas A&M star accounted for 207 of Tampa Bays 329 total yards on seven catches.

Worst overthrows: Griffin managed to do what no quarterback has done before, overthrowing DeSean Jackson not once, but twice. Jackson, who was aiming for his third consecutive 100-yard game for the first time in his career, had four catches for 35 yards.

Worst player-fan interaction: This doesnt sound good.

Worst wait: With tighter security in place given all the military personnel in attendance for the Redskins annual Salute to Service, fans waited longer than normal to enter FedEx Field.

Best crowd: The announced attendance was 77,442. Sure, okay.

Scott Allen writes about all things D.C. sports. Follow him on Twitter @ScottSAllen or e-mail him if youve got a tip to share.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2014/11/16/redskins-buccaneers-best-and-worst-2/

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