Redskins Vs. Colts: Four Takeaways From The Redskins' Preseason Dress Rehearsal Against Indy

With the Redskins' regular season opener now less than two weeks away, here are some of the key takeaways from Saturday's game.

Redskins Vs. Colts: Post-Game Quotes From The Redskins Locker Room

LANDOVER, Md - Here are some post-game locker room quotes following the Redskins 30-17 preseason victory over the Colts:

Pierre Garcon

On the offense's performance: "We did a lot of great things today. We ran the ball well, threw the ball well, got some yard both in the air an don the ground. We still have [some things] to clean up, but we did a good job out there today."

On Robert Griffin's performance: "He did a great job. We helped him out, running the ball well.....he's got a lot of things to work on, but it's a good start, a good preseason."

On the deep passes: "Coach Shanahan likes to throw deep ball. We thought we had it. It was a good play. I gotta get my speed up to get to it, but it'll come...Deep balls are very tough to hit. One little misstep can throw it off, and too far ahead of the ball can throw it off as well...it's going to come along."

Santana Moss

On returning punts: "I'm always willing [to do it]. It's something that I think I'll forever know how to do. It's just something that comes with you. They gave a chance to get back there."

On if he wanted to return punts or if the coaching staff approached him: "I've been talking about it all OTAs. Especially since I lost all that weight, I feel like I could run again. It's a lot [easier], I feel like my old self. I've been messing around saying ‘Hey man, if [Brandon] Banks ever stumps his toe, you can count on me'"

On the first team offense and Robert Griffin III: "He did alright. It's nothing to get all crazy about. We did what we had to do. We went out there and moved the ball. We left a lot of stuff out on the field also, so there's nothing to get too crazy about...I think we did enough to be pleased with tonight."

Tim Hightower

On playing for the first time since last October: "It felt good,man. It just felt good being out there. I don't think I was really worried about the knee. Once I got out there I kinda got caught in the crowd and what [was] going on. It was just football, getting out there just playing football. The knee was fine, it just felt good to be apart of it."

On how important his first run was to him: "It was special. I think I hugged my coach and trainers about 18 times, just because it's been a long road. It's really been a long road. I knew how special it would be when coach told me the other day I was getting ready to play, but you really don't know that feeling until you get back out there and you do it. You hear the crowd noise, you're in the huddle with the guys, and on the sideline. It was special."

On Alfred Morris: "I kind of fed off some of Alfred's energy. That guy was running hard. He helped me. He kinda gave me that spark, seeing him out there running hard and putting everything out there."

On if he's encouraged after his first outing: "Absolutely. It's the first step. It's not the end of the road, I still got a lot of work to do, and I still feel like there's improvement I gotta do, but I'm in the ballgame."

Alfred Morris

On if he helped himself: "I definitely do, but I came in and I just said ‘I'm making this 53 man roster. I'm going to make it hard for these coaches not to keep me on this roster.' And I think I definitely helped myself going out there today. If I get in again next week, I'm gonna do the same thing, have fun and just work hard."

On potentially being the starting running back: "At the end of the day, everyone wants to be the starter, nobody wants to be a backup. "

On if he was surprised with his quick progress: "I knew what I'm capable of. I came from a small school, but I know my [work ethic]. I know that my willingness and want-to to be great. I definitely knew within myself that I could be a starter one day. I knew it was a process, and once I get my opportunities, I was going to make the most of it. I definitely have been getting a lot of opportunities a lot sooner than I thought due to injuries. "

Colts Vs. Redskins Score Update: Washington Defeats Indianapolis 30-17

The preseason battle of rookie quarterbacks was won by Washington's Robert Griffin III, as his Redskins bested Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts 30-17 on Saturday night at FedEx Field. Both rookie signal callers played well for their team, and the Washington ground game and defensive front were the difference in the contest.

Griffin finished the game 11 of 17 passing for 74 yards and a touchdown. Luck, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, completed 14 of 23 throws for 151 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Alfred Morris, battling to make the Redskins roster, was impressive running the ball. He gained 107 yards on 14 carries with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

It should be noted that Washington backup quarterback Rex Grossman was eight for eight in second half duty, throwing for 127 yards and two touchdowns. This was after getting booed upon his entry to the game.

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Chris Baker Injury: Washington Redskins Defensive Lineman Leaves Game With Ankle Injury

The Washington Redskins are currently leading the Indianapolis Colts 30-10 in their third preseason game of the year, with Robert Griffin III and the Washington running game looking particularly good on Saturday night. Unfortunately, it appears the Redskins defensive front has taken a hit late in the game. Via Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Washington:

Team announced Chris Baker has an ankle injury and is questionable to return. #Redskins

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikElBashir) August 25, 2012

The Redskins have already lost nose tackle Chris Nield to injury, and an extended absence from Baker would leave Washington thin up front on the defensive line. No word yet from the team on the extent of the injury.

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Colts Vs. Redskins Score Update: Washington Extends Lead to 23-7 Over Indianapolis After 3 Quarters

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has now left the game, but the team extended their lead over the Indianapolis Colts and fellow rookie quarterback Andrew Luck and now lead 23-7 after three quarters.

Griffin III finished the game 11 of 17 for 74 yards and a touchdown, good for a 93.8 quarterback rating. Luck, taken one spot ahead of Griffin in the 2012 NFL Draft, finished his night 14 of 23 for 151 yards and a touchdown, a 94.7 quarterback rating.

Washington scored first in the third quarter when Chris Wilson picked up a safety. The Redskins tacked on seven more points courtesy of a Rex Grossman touchdown toss to Josh Morgan.

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Colts Vs. Redskins Score Update: Washington Offense Comes Alive, Skins Lead 14-7 At Halftime

After both teams failed to get on the board in the first quarter, the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts combined for three touchdowns in the second quarter, with Washington leading 14-7 at the half.

Washington scored first, with an Alfred Morris two yard touchdown run capping an eight play, 66 yard drive. The Colts answered, with Andrew Luck tossing a 31-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton to tie the game 7-7. The Redskins took the 14-7 lead just before the half, on a nicely designed RGIII rollout toss to Santana Moss from four yards out.

The Redskins ground game, particularly rookie Alfred Morris, has been impressive in the first half. Morris has 12 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown, solidifying his spot on the roster. Tim Hightower chipped in an 18-yard run in the second quarter, his first carry since October 2011.

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Colts Vs. Redskins Score Update: Washington, Indianapolis Scoreless After First Quarter

A preseason battle showcasing the top two quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft has seen little offense in the first quarter, with the Indianapolis Colts and host Washington Redskins tied 0-0 after 15 minutes of play.

Robert Griffin III has made a few nice throws, and is four for seven in the quarter, for just 25 yards. The Redskins QB was also hit hard from the blind-side early in the game, the first time this preseason the team's franchise quarterback was roughed up.

Fellow rookie QB Andrew Luck was five of eight for 38 yards in the first quarter for the Colts.

The Redskins defense took advantage of a young Colts offensive line, with Ryan Kerrigan, London Fletcher and Stephen Bowen all getting to Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck.

For more on the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven and stay tuned to SB Nation D.C. For a view from the other sideline, visit Stampede Blue and SB Nation Indiana. For all your NFL news and nuggets, be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

ANIMATED: Robert Griffin III Takes Biggest Shot Of Preseason To Date

Colts Vs. Redskins: Three Pre-Game Questions Heading Into Redskins vs. Colts

LANDOVER, MD - Perhaps you may have heard, but there's a pretty big football game happening today.

The Washington Redskins are hosting the Indianapolis Colts, where Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck will square off to show their respective teams and fanbases once and for all who picked the better quarterback in the 2012 NFL draft.

Okay, not really.

The third preseason game for the Redskins this year comes with much hype and anticipation, but at the end of the day, it's still preseason. As is customary with the third exhibition game, the starters will get their usual two-and-a-half quarter tune up before the games begin counting for real in a few weeks.

With that said, here are some questions heading into Saturday's matchup:

1. How will Robert Griffin III look in extended action?

Without a doubt, all eyes will be on Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck, the top two selections in this year's draft. And while that's the sexy headline for this game, what's most important is tracking their development rather than saying who will have a better career.

For Griffin, that means improving upon last week's uneven effort. There were moments where he was able to get the ball out on time, show off his ability to elude pressure, and use his speed to move the chains. However, there were other times where he was indecisive, tentative in the pocket, and on a few throws, inaccurate. He had his struggles for sure, but none of them were outside of the realm of what most would consider "typical rookie pitfalls".

This week, Griffin will get more a chance to show what he can do, as he and the first team offense will play into the third quarter. The offense will likely be simplistic, but it'll give Griffin more reps to help improved pocket presence, accuracy, and general speed of the NFL game.

"RGIII vs. Luck" will draw plenty of opinions after the game, but what happens in an exhibition game shouldn't be considered a definitive glimpse into their respective careers.

2. How will Tim Hightower fare, coming off an ACL injury?

Barring a setback, Tim Hightower will see his first live game action since tearing his ACL during last season's Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers. And given the state of the Redskins backfield at the moment, his return couldn't happen any sooner.

Washington has had a trouble keeping their stable of runners healthy this preseason, and they will head into Saturday's game once again down two men, this time Evan Royster (knee) and Roy Helu (achilles).

That means it's up to Hightower to shake off the rust starting Saturday night and show the coaching staff that he'll be ready to go come September 9^th, when the Redskins open their season against the Saints.

3. How will the first team secondary rebound from last week's disappointing outing?

The new look Redskins pass defense struggled last weekend against the Bears. There were a concerning number of missed tackles, bad angles and poor coverage that led to Chicago receivers having a field day in the first half.

This week, the first team secondary has a chance to rebound from last week's shaky effort. With the team game planning more for the Colts than they did against the Bears a week ago, it'll be important to show that their performance in Chicago was just an aberration.

The perception of the secondary going into this season is that, while they may not be great, they'll have to take advantage of what's expected to be a strong defensive front seven. They'll have to play well consistently to change that.

For more live coverage of the game, follow our Redskins editor Daniel Shiferaw on twitter at @dshif . Keep it here for post game updates as well.

Colts Vs: Redskins: Roy Helu, Evan Royster Ruled Out Of Saturday's Game, Tim Hightower Expected To Play

Washington Redskins running backs Roy Helu and Even Royster will not be playing in Saturday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts, according to head coach Mike Shanahan.

However, injured back Tim Hightower is expected to return to action on Saturday for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. Barring any setbacks, Hightower will receive some playing time against Indianapolis.

Via The Washington Times:

"We allowed him to go full-speed this week. He started out on the scout team, and he did a good job making different cuts and it looked like he was going full speed," Shanahan said. "[Wednesday] he even looked better and there was no setback. So he's ready to go."

Royster received an MRI on his right knee on Thursday that came back negative. The club believes that the injury will improve with rest.

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Redskins Injury Update: Roy Helu Returns To Practice Wednesday

As the Redskins prepare for their third preseason game Saturday afternoon against the Indianapolis Colts, they got a boost Wednesday with the return of running back Roy Helu to practice.

According to The Washington Post, Helu has missed about a week-and-a-half of practice time with two sore Achillies tendons. Shanahan did say that Helu was limited in Wednesday's workout, and it is unclear when he will return to full strength.

Helu's main competition for the starting running back spot, Tim Hightower, is still working his way back from offseason surgery to repair a torn ACL and also missed Tuesday's practice while attending his grandfather's funeral. Shanahan said that he wasn't sure if Helu and Hightower would be ready for Washington's season opener, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 9 against the New Orleans Saints.

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Redskins Injury Update: No Timetable For Brandon Meriweather's Return, Brian Orakpo Says He'll Play In Opener

Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo stated on Wednesday that he fully expects to be ready for the team's season opener on Sept. 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Orakpo will sit out the remainder of the preseason with a strained left shoulder and pectoral area, which he sustained in the first quarter of Saturday night's game against the Chicago Bears.

The 26-year-old was already participating in non-contact drills and stated that the soreness in the damaged area was minimal. He and the medical staff have elected to proceed with caution in order to avoid a set-back.

While Orakpo is progressing, Brandon Meriweather's future is questionable. The team's projected strong saftey sustained a leg injury on Saturday night and doesn't know when he will be available to return.

Via The Washington Post:

"This is my first leg injury, period, so I didn't know what to think," Meriweather said. "All I know is when you see someone grab their knee, it's something severe, so it just scared me a little bit."

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Colts Vs. Redskins: London Fletcher Likely To Play For Washington

London Fletcher will likely play in this Saturday's preseason game between the Washington Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Mike Shanahan confirmed Monday. Fletcher was a full participant in practice Monday after missing Saturday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears with an unknown ailment.

Shanahan declined to say what was bothering Fletcher before the game, only that the 37-year-old "wasn't feeling very good." There is a chance that Fletcher would have played if it were a regular season again, and there appear to be no signs of any long-term complications.

Fletcher was spectacular in 2011, recording a league-leading 166 tackles. He has shown no signs of slowing down despite his relatively advanced age. He re-signed with Washington in April and figures to once again lead the Redskins' defense from his inside linebacker spot.

In other injury news, Shanahan said that running back Tim Hightower, who is coming off ACL surgery, practiced Monday, but Roy Helu did not. Shanahan also noted that Helu was experiencing soreness in both Achilles tendons. It is unclear if either man will play Saturday.

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Colts Vs. Redskins: Brian Orakpo, Brandon Meriweather Will Be Held Out Of Final Two Preseason Games

Brian Orakpo (shoulder) and Brandon Meriweather (knee) will not participate in the rest of Redskins preseason, Mike Shanahan confirmed Monday. Both players are expected to be fine for the regular season opener.