WASHINGTON — The Washington Redskins led the NFL in players on the injury report this week, boasting 21 of 53 players, two more than the second place Houston Texans.
This is not a statistic that any team wants to lead, but once again, the Redskins will be adding to their list this week.
By the end of the third quarter vs. the New Orleans Saints, the Redskins had already ruled out dynamic playmaker Chris Thompson (leg), defensive back Montae Nicholson (concussion), defensive lineman Terrell McClain (toe) and offensive guard Shawn Lauvao (stinger).
Chris Thompson’s injury is devastating and is likely to severely hamper the Redskins’ offense moving forward. Going into Sunday, lead the team in rushing yards (277), receptions (66), and receiving yards (494) during his breakout season:
There’s a chance that his injury could end his season and further expose the team’s lack of options in the receiving and rushing game. His teammates understand the value that he provides:
Legendary NFL running backs like Thurman Thomas also understand his importance:
for Chris Thompson.. kid can play….
— Thurman Thomas (@thurmanthomas) November 19, 2017
for Chris Thompson.. kid can play….Nicholson’s absence removed some speed from the Redskins’ secondary, which hurts against the Saints’ dynamic receiving corps. His absence hurts especially because Quinton Dunbar, who caught an illness late in the week, was held inactive on Sunday.
The Redskins were already thin along the offensive lines, with starting center Spencer Long inactive due to injury. Backup guard Arie Kouandjio was a healthy scratch on Sunday, further testing the team’s depth along the line.
The defensive line has faced its own challenges, as Matt Ioannidis and Anthony Lanier were listed on the injury report this week. Both ended up being active, but McClain has been a steady contributor in each game this season. His absence hurts them most at the nose tackle position.
Maybe Josh Norman is right and the Redskins do have an injury bug. Injuries are a common part of football, but the Redskins have had a revolving door of availability at too many positions, challenging their ability to sustain success.
“One thing happened after another. A player would go down — we can’t go through one game without somebody going down,” Norman told NFL Total Access on Friday. “It’s just the bug, I guess.”
Just in time for the holidays, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
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