Leonard Hankerson figured to provide the Washington Redskins one of few reasons for hope over the final seven games.
Not anymore.
Washington’s outlook went from bad to worse Monday with news the rookie wide receiver will be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list. He tore the labrum in his right hip in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Hankerson had eight catches for 106 yards in the game before he was injured. He was a rare bright spot on an otherwise inept offense.
“He’s got a big upside, as we saw yesterday,” coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. “I like the way he handles himself. I like the way he works. It’s a setback for him. He was devastated when he found out, but he’ll work through it.”
Hankerson, the 79th overall draft pick in April, will meet with specialists over the next week to determine whether surgery is required. The injury requires four months of rehabilitation, Shanahan said.
“Painful painful painful,” Hankerson wrote on his Twitter account Monday evening. “Hate to have to go down like this.”
He was hurt on a 9-yard reception over the middle. Dolphins safety Reshad Jones tackled him from behind. Hankerson’s hip subluxated, meaning it popped out of the joint and immediately slipped back in on its own. The labrum typically tears when that happens.
Hankerson was inactive for the first five games but started the past two. Against Miami, he became the first Redskins receiver this season to eclipse 100 yards in a game.
His rookie year concludes with 13 catches for 163 yards. Shanahan has not determined who will take his roster spot.
Grossman to start Sunday
Quarterback Rex Grossman’s play against Miami satisfied Shanahan enough for the coach to keep him as the starter for this Sunday’s game against Dallas.
“Everybody will say, well, we only had nine points,” Shanahan said. “But nine points obviously goes to a collective group. But I thought Rex played well.”
Grossman was 21-of-32 for 215 yards, two interceptions and a passer rating of 58.7.
Shanahan dodged a question asking whether he would have replaced John Beck with Grossman sooner if Grossman hadn’t come down with pneumonia Oct. 21.
“Anytime anybody has pneumonia, usually it lingers for a few weeks,” Shanahan said.
Extra points
Newly-signed wide receiver David Anderson (one catch, 14 yards) cut into Terrence Austin’s playing time Sunday, not Anthony Armstrong’s. Anderson plays the inside slot receiver position, while Armstrong is more of an outside speed receiver, Shanahan said.
“When you bring in a guy like David Anderson, he’s more of a guy like Santana Moss, being able to beat defensive backs one on one,” Shanahan said. “He did an excellent job playing.”
• Defensive end Kedric Golston will miss significant time because he completely tore the medial collateral ligament and partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees.
• Receiver Santana Moss (broken left hand) won’t play against Dallas but might play against Seattle the following week, Shanahan said.
• Right tackle Jammal Brown (left groin) is a “long shot” for the Dallas game, Shanahan said.
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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