The Washington Redskins lost offensive tackle Jon Jansen to a season-ending fractured fibula and a dislocated right ankle Sunday, while en route to a 16-13 overtime win against the Miami Dolphins. Jansen suffered the injury in the second quarter; it happened on third and-goal at the Dolphins’ five yard line. As Jansen blocked defensive end Matt Roth, he was knocked to the ground from behind by blitzing linebacker Zach Thomas, who had just sacked quarterback Jason Campbell.
Jansen will undergo surgery this week and faces three to four months of rehabilitation. He will have to wear a cast for six weeks, and Jansen said that in about three to four months he would be able to resume normal training. He was told that there is some ligament damage but that he shouldn’t have lingering issues once rehab is finished. The team announced on Tuesday that RT Todd Wade will take over for Jansen.
First Timers
– After Jansen’s injury, Stephon Heyer stepped on an NFL field to participate in a regular season game for the first time. The undrafted rookie free agent from Maryland wasn’t even listed as a right tackle, and when asked later if he had played RT in the past he responded “Not even one down, not even one practice, not even one rep at right tackle.”
Not even in youth leagues? “Not even anything,” he said. “I’ve never played right tackle.” Jansen’s backup Todd Wade was inactive, because the coaches believed having Heyer to backup a recently injured Chris Samuels was better than dressing Wade, a career RT who is resting a sore shoulder. Heyer played the rest of the game at a position he was barely familiar with and did a very good job. He will now practice at both tackle positions and is the primary backup to both Wade and Samuels.
– In overtime, with the score tied 13-13, the Redskins had a first down at Miami’s 22-yard line after gashing their tired defense. Hall of Fame coach Joe Jackson Gibbs summoned Shaun Suisham. Yes, it was first down, and yes, Suisham is the kicker. So in his second year – and only his seventh game as a Redskin – Suisham took the field. The Dolphins tried to “ice” him with a time-out, but Suisham kicked a game winning FG for the first time as his 39-yarder cleared the uprights.
After the game, Shaun said “That was my first opportunity at a game-winner … You remember being 13 years old when kicking thinking of that game-winner, always pretending it’s the game-winner on the last kick of the day. You do that all the time and all the preparation there that went into that kick, it’s pretty satisfying. It’s a great feeling, and I’m sure happy to be a part of this team and able to do that and help guys win.”
Suisham’s premature, 1st down kick only happened because Gibbs has been burned in similar situations in the past, trying to pick up more yards only to get hit with penalties that left the Redskins out of field goal range.
Roster Moves
On Wednesday the Redskins re-signed veteran safety Omar Stoutmire. The 5-11, 205 lbs. Stoutmire had signed with the Redskins in the off-season, but he was released in the team’s final roster cut-down. Stoutmire played in 12 games for the Redskins in 2005 and fills the roster spot left open when right tackle Jon Jansen was put on Injured Reserve. This appears to be a move to add some depth while backups Vernon Fox and Pierson Prioleau recover from leg injuries suffered in Sunday’s game.
The team announced on Tuesday that they had signed five year veteran wide receiver Reche Caldwell to the active roster. Caldwell was released by the New England Patriots last week, after a season in which he had 61 catches, 760 yards, and 4 touchdowns. The receiver played his first four seasons in San Diego after he was drafted by the Chargers in the second round of the 2002 draft. Caldwell is 28 years old and originally from Tampa, Fl., he played his college ball at Florida.
The Redskins signed offensive lineman Justin Geisinger to the practice squad on Tuesday. Geisinger is a 6-3, 322 lbs. guard who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 draft by the Buffalo Bills. He spent time on the roster of the Tennessee Titans in 2006. Justin is 25 years old and from Pittsburgh, Pa., and he played his college ball at Vanderbilt.
Second year linebacker Anthony Trucks was also released from the practice squad on Tuesday. The Redskins shuffled space on the roster by releasing wide receiver Burl Toler from the practice squad and cutting running back Marcus Mason from the active roster on the same day. Both players are rookies, and Mason is a local product who went to Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md. Once Mason cleared waivers on Wednesday, he was signed to the practice squad.
Up Next
On Monday Night the Redskins will face division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles are coming off of a 16-13 loss in Green Bay. Late in the game, J.R. Reed went back to return a punt but muffed it, and the Packers recovered the ball and went on to kick a game-winning 42-yard field goal.
Donovan McNabb threw for 184 yards, a touchdown, and an interception last Sunday, while Brian Westbrook picked up 85 yards on twenty carries. Two-time Pro Bowl CB Lito Sheppard hurt his right knee in a collision with Packers receiver Ruvell Martin on Sunday and is not expected to play on Monday night. Last season the Eagles won both meetings, and they have won eight of the last 10 games in the series. As always, those who can’t watch the game live can follow it online at THN.
Injury Report:
DE Phillip Daniels – Probable (Hamstring)
LB Marcus Washington – Probable (Strained right foot)
S Vernon Fox – Questionable (Strained groin)
S Pierson Prioleau – Questionable (Hamstring)
Injured Reserves:
FB Broughton, Nehemiah (Knee)
TE Ecker, Tyler (Groin)
WR Espy, Mike (Knee)
WR Harris, Steven (Knee)
WR McAddley, Jason (Hamstring)
OL Tucker, Ross (Neck)
OT Jansen, Jon (Ankle)
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Bernie Marshall