Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss said Wednesday the broken left hand he suffered against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday will only keep him off the field for 3-to-6 weeks, reports Grant Paulsen. That projection, which Moss said he received from team doctors, is more optimistic than the one Mike Shanahan offered Monday, when the Redskins coach said Moss would miss 5-to-7 weeks.
Moss leads Redskins wideouts in receptions (25) and ranks No. 2 in yards (301). His absence, no matter the duration, means Jabar Gaffney becomes the top wide receiver, and puts more pressure on tight end Fred Davis, who leads all Redskins in receptions (28) and yards (423).
In the next three weeks, Washington will face the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Miami Dolphins. Of those three, only San Francisco boasts an imposing defense, so perhaps the Redskins can make due without Moss. But given their rash of injuries--which you can follow in this StoryStream at SB Nation DC--their margin for error, no matter the opponent, is slim.