ASHBURN, Va. | The Washington Redskins could be without half of their starting defensive backfield when they face Randy Moss and the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Carlos Rogers said Thursday his right hamstring is still sore after hurting it in Monday night’s 59-28 loss to Philadelphia, while safety LaRon Landry is fighting a sore Achilles’ tendon that has limited him in practice for several weeks.
“They’ll have to feel a lot better to play,” coach Mike Shanahan said.
Neither player has practiced this week. Rogers didn’t sound optimistic about his chances of taking the field against the Titans.
“In my situation, I’m definitely not going to rush it,” Rogers said. “I know my body. I’m not going to put my body in jeopardy just to be out there and then I can’t perform the way I want to perform and put something bad on film. That’s not helping me individually or the team.”
Rogers is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Landry said he is “a little achy” but thinks he’ll be ready by Sunday.
“If he can fight through the pain, he’ll be able to play,” Shanahan said.
The Redskins already have the worst ranked defense in the NFL, allowing 415.3 yards per game, despite staying relatively healthy. There have been only three man-games lost to injury this season among the defensive starters.
Rogers knows if he plays, the Titans will go after him.
“If they hear reports about me being on the injured list about my hamstring, and if I go out there, they’re going to test it,” he said.
The Redskins could again be short-handed in the backfield. Clinton Portis said he suffered a setback last week in his eagerness to return from a torn left groin. He has missed five straight games and said he still hasn’t “pushed to the max” to test the muscle in practice.
Ryan Torain was set to start at running back Monday night, but he aggravated a hamstring injury during warmups, giving undrafted rookie running back Keiland Williams a first career start. Torain has not practiced this week.
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