SB Nation DC - Brian Orakpo Injury: MRI Shows 'Nothing Serious' For Redskins LB

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

2012-08-20T19:00:16Z

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.

For more on Fletcher and the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven and stay tuned to SB Nation D.C.

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

2012-08-20T18:04:40Z

Washington Redskins defensive end Brian Orakpo and safety Brandon Meriweather will be held out of the team's final two preseason games, head coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. Orakpo sustained a left shoulder injury Saturday against the Chicago Bears and had to leave the game in the first quarter. Meriweather was also forced to leave the game with a left knee injury.

Both players are expected to be healthy by the start of the regular season. An MRI taken of Orakpo's shoulder revealed no serious damage and agent Ben Dogra was confident that his client would be ready for the Redskins' Sept. 9 opener against the New Orleans Saints. Meriweather's knee injury also isn't considered serious. Shanahan confirmed that neither player will need surgery.

The news will come as a relief to Redskins fans, and also as a relief to Orakpo, who initially thought his injury was more severe.

#Redskins Orakpo on injury "I'm very optimistic about it, the injury wasn't as significant as what we originally thought" MRI came back neg.
— Sky Kerstein (@SkyKerstein) August 20, 2012

#Redskins LB Orakpo on his left pec: "I thought I re-tore it" ... says he's feeling good.bit.ly/NXEFiu
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 20, 2012

If soreness is the only problem either player has going forward, then Washington dodged a major bullet. With just three weeks until the games actually matter, expect coaching staffs around the league to begin clamping down on their starters.

For more the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven and stay tuned to SB Nation D.C.

Redskins Vs. Bears: Four Takeaways From The Second Preseason Game

2012-08-20T14:47:47Z

The Washington Redskins faced stiff competition Saturday night in a 33-31 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears.

It was a tale of two halves for Washington, who saw their first team offense struggle and their defense lose two starters to injury. Robert Griffin III had his share of growing pains, and the starting offense was only able to score three points one half of action. The second half saw the Redskins come back to take a brief 31-30 lead before the Bears Robbie Gould hit a 57 yard field goal to win it.

Keeping in mind that this is still only preseason, here are some takeaways from Saturday's game:

The first team secondary did not have a great night. The Redskins starting secondary didn't do much to quell fan concerns about their ability to be consistent in 2012. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and receiver Brandon Marshall were having field days against a Redskins pass defense that was allowing receivers to get wide open through most of the first half.

Things started poorly on the first pass attempt for the Bears. DeAngelo Hall lined up at free safety, with Josh Wilson and Cedric Griffin lining up on the outside receivers. Marshall beat Griffin and found an opening between him and Hall for a 41 yard completion. Subsequent plays looked eerily similar, as Bears receivers were the beneficiary of spotty coverage, bad angles, and defenders occasionally slipping or missing tackles.

It's only one game, and a preseason one at that, so it's too early to make judgements about the Redskins new look defensive backfield. Perhaps Saturday night's performance was not a sign of what's to come. Regardless, the Redskins are counting on their secondary to step up this season and supplement what is expected to be a strong front seven.

Kirk Cousins is continues to show progress. There's no doubt that Cousins was the player of the game for the Redskins. Going 18 for 23 for 264 yards and three touchdowns in one half will usually earn you that distinction. Playing against the Bears' second and third stringers, Cousins was poised, accurate and decisive. He got the ball out on time, rarely looked rattled and seemed to have a good command of the offense. No, there isn't a quarterback controversy. But what's important is that Cousins is showing the type of progress and that has to make the Redskins coaching staff feel good about the future of the backup QB position.

Aldrick Robinson showed off his versatility. While Robinson's six catches for 104 yards certainly helps his case for making the 53 man roster, it was the way he got there that was perhaps even more impressive. Robinson was able to get open on a variety of routes, showing the coaching staff that he's more than just. Five of his six receptions came on different patterns, including a slant, out, a back shoulder throw and an option route that he caught and extended into a 49 yard score.

"[On that play], I've got the option to take it deep or set it down. I saw the safety peeking at me," Robinson told the media after the game. He chose to to cut the route off, creating the separation needed to make the catch.

It's clear at this point that Robinson is in a fight for that last receiver spot along with newcomer Dezmon Briscoe and return man Brandon Banks. Robinson has more polish as a pass catcher, but unlike Banks (who had a return touchdown), doesn't have as much experience in the return game.

Richard Crawford adds something new to his game. Another week, another moment to shine for the seventh round pick out of SMU. This week, Crawford added a new wrinkle to his game against the Bears: Playing from the slot. Not only was it his first time covering inside receivers this preseason, but it was also his first chance to apply pressure. He blitzed from the slot twice, forcing rushed throws from Josh McCown each time.

"This is my first time playing nickel," he told reporters after the game. "That's my first time really hitting the QB."

And for the second week in a row, he was around the ball, notching two pass breakups in limited action in the second half. Crawford now has two good preseason appearances to go along with a solid training camp, and it's fair to say at this point he has a legitimate shot to make the team as its fifth cornerback.

This week should be filled with a great deal of intrigue, as top overall pick Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts come to Fed Ex Field for the third preseason game, otherwise known as the "dress rehearsal" . Luck vs. RGIII will certainly grab the headlines most of the week, but it'll be even more interesting to see the rest of the Redskins first teamers in action for more than a half.

For more Redskins coverage, follow Daniel on Twitter at @dshif .Also, be sure to check out SB Nation's Redskins blog, Hogs Haven, as well as SB Nation's NFL hub.

Brandon Meriweather Injury: Left Knee MRI Shows No Significant Damage

2012-08-19T22:05:20Z

Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather's MRI on Sunday revealed no significant damage to the left knee which Meriweather injured on Saturday.

As with the Brian Orakpo injury update earlier, the Redskins' defensive unit has seemingly dodged another bullet. There is no timetable for a return for Meriweather. The safety injured his knee during Saturday's 33-31 loss to the Chicago Bears, on a touchdown run by Bears running back Michael Bush in the first half.

Meriweather, formerly with the Bears, was acquired by the Redskins in the offseason through free agency. Meriweather is expected to be a starter for Washington this season. The six-year NFL veteran has made 293 tackles and 12 interceptions during his career.

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Brian Orakpo Injury Update: MRI Shows No Serious Damage

2012-08-19T20:29:59Z

Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo underwent an MRI today after suffering an injury to his left shoulder in Saturday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears and the results showed no serious damage, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

Orakpo's agent, Ben Dogra, reported to Maske that he is confident the linebacker will not miss significant time.

As one of the league's premier pass-rushing linebackers, the news on Orakpo's injury should be welcome in the Redskins camp. Orakpo recorded 9.0 sacks in 2011 to go along with 60 tackles. He has 29.0 sacks over his last three seasons. Losing him for a significant amount of time would have dealt a blow to the 'Skins, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-11 season last year.

For more on the Redskins, be sure to visit Hogs Haven. For news, analysis, and opinion on all things professional football, head over to SB Nation's NFL Hub.

Brian Orakpo Injury Update: Mike Shanahan Says Linebacker Injured Left Pectoral Muscle

2012-08-19T04:02:22Z

Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo left Saturday night's 33-31 exhibition loss to the Chicago Bears after suffering what the team called a strained left shoulder while trying to make a tackle in the first quarter. On the same Chicago scoring drive, safety Brandon Meriweather had to be helped off the field with a left knee injury.

Following the game, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan announced that both Orakpo and Meriweather would undergo MRIs Sunday. In Orakpo's case, there is definite cause for concern, since Shanahan disclosed that Orakpo injured his left pectoral muscle. Orakpo injured the same muscle in the 2011 season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles and had surgery on it in the offseason.

Even if the MRI reveals no significant damage, it's easy to imagine the Redskins treating both Orakpo and Meriweather with kid gloves for the rest of the preseason. Both guys are simply too important to a defense that is under pressure to improve from last year's performance.

For more on the Redskins, please be sure to check out our blog Hogs Haven and SB Nation DC for all the latest news and updates.For the Chicago perspective on Saturday night's game, check out Windy City Gridiron. And for all the latest news and notes from around the NFL, check out SB Nation's pro football hub.

Redskins Vs. Bears Final Score: Washington Falls Just Short In Chicago, 33-31

2012-08-19T03:37:22Z

The Washington Redskins almost completed an amazing comeback against the Chicago Bears, only to fall short by a score of 33-31 thanks to a 57-yard Robbie Gould field goal in the final minute.

Down 30-10 in the 4th quarter, Kirk Cousins was sensational down the stretch. The Michigan State product could seemingly do no wrong, throwing three touchdown passes in the final quarter to put Washington up 31-30 with just under two minutes remaining.

Overall, Cousins threw for 264 yards on 18-of-23 passing in his second half action. Rookie Aldrick Robinson out of SMU also turned heads, with 104 receiving yards on six catches.

Robert Griffin III was somewhat disappointing in the first half. The Heisman Trophy winner only completed 5-of-8 passes for 49 yards while also losing a fumble.

Of course, the other big news from the game was the loss of Brian Orakpo and Brandon Meriweather in the 1st quarter to injuries. Orakpo left due to an apparent shoulder injury, while Meriweather left when he strained his knee during a Michael Bush touchdown run. Not surprisingly, neither player returned to action.

For more on the Redskins, please be sure to check out our blog Hogs Haven and SB Nation DC for all the latest news and updates.

Redskins Vs. Bears: Washington Trailing 30-10 After Third Quarter

2012-08-19T02:49:29Z

The Washington Redskins are losing 30-10 at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears.

With the backups now in to replace the starters, the Redskins were outscored 10-0 in the third quarter. The half started off on the wrong foot when Bears returner Lorenzo Booker took the kickoff 105 yards to give Chicago a 27-10 advantage.

On the positive side of things, Kirk Cousins has looked good in relief of Robert Griffin III, who ended his night at halftime after completing 5-of-8 passes for 49 yards with a lost fumble. Cousins is 6-of-9 for 69 yards without an interception or touchdown to his name.

Again, the biggest news are the injuries to Brian Orakpo and Brandon Meriweather. Both were hurt in the first quarter and will not return. Orakpo hurt his shoulder while Meriweather strained his knee.

The Redskins have also been successful on the ground, gaining 103 yards on 26 carries. Alfred Morris is leading the team with 34 yards on 10 attempts.

For more on the Redskins, please be sure to check out our blog Hogs Haven and SB Nation DC for all the latest news and updates.