Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather taking a quick break during training camp. (Photo courtesy of http://flic.kr/p/cHW63S)
For the most part, the Washington Redskins avoided major injuries during training camp and preseason play, but the first four games have been veritable killing fields taking out several key players.
Week one saw the loss of long snapper Nick Sundberg who broke his arm in the second quarter but snapped the ball seven more times (three punts, two field goals, and two extra points) to complete the game.
In the week two game against the St. Louis Rams, injuries burned through the Redskins’ defensive front seven in a manner akin to Sherman burning Atlanta. Linebacker Brian Orakpo tore his pectoral muscle for the second consecutive season, and defensive end Adam Carriker tore his right quadricep. Both players have been placed on IR and are unavailable for the rest of the season. While not a starter, running back Roy Helu, Jr. joined Orakpo and Carriker on IR with turf toe and Achilles tendon injuries in week three.
Just when fans started believing the injury bug had been put to bed, the Redskins proved once again that they are the NFL’s protaganist in the least humorous Shakespearean comedy ever imagined. C’mon, it was pre-game. Pre-game warm-ups, in fact!!!
In a freak accident, safety Brandon Meriweather, who had been activated for the first time this season, collided with unsuspecting wide receiver Aldrick Robinson knocking Robinson unconscious and causing Meriweather to re-injure his sprained left knee. Of couse, both players were quickly deactivated for the game. Meriweather has been ruled out for the week five game against the Falcons, and Robinson is currently undergoing the NFL’s mandated program and will not be allowed to play until he passes a specified series of tests.
Please just make it stop!!! This team is beginning to resemble the Bad New Bears…at the beginning of the movie! The Redskins lack the depth to absorb the injuries that have already occurred without significant impact on the team’s quality of play let alone any future injuries that may occur. In the remaining twelve games, the team still must face the punishing defenses in the NFC East as well as the traditionally dominant defensive units of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburg Steelers. Quite simply, this injury trend line MUST flatten…quickly!
But as always, Hail To The Redskins!!!
