Perhaps LaRon Landry learned his lesson about divulging too much injury information. A week after using Twitter to criticize the Washington Redskins training staff, Landry is saying as little as possible about the hamstring injury that held him out of the season opener against the New York Giants.
“I’m doing well, taking it a day at a time,” he said Wednesday. “It’s a lot of progress. It’s getting better.”
Landry deferred to coach Mike Shanahan to provide the injury update on the strong safety who is considered one of the most talented players on the Redskins’ defense. Shanahan revealed that Landry was “limited” in practice.
“He’s hoping he can go,” the coach said. “So we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”
An evasive Landry acknowledged it was difficult watching the Giants game because of his competitive nature and sounded eager just to be healthy. When that will be is anyone’s guess, but he assured reporters that this being his contract year won’t affect when he returns.
“As far as a contract year, I don’t really look into it,” he said. “That aspect of the game — I have a great agent and he’ll take care of all that. I’m just worried about getting on the field and being able to perform and help my team win.”
This could be similar to tight end Chris Cooley’s situation last week, as the Redskins don’t want to risk Landry coming back too quickly.
“He’s got to show he can play,” Shanahan said. “There’s always that question — you don’t want to push him over the hump where he sets himself back. So there’s a fine line there.”
Reed Doughty took Landry’s place against New York and was burned a couple times. Cornerback Josh Wilson said Doughty deserved a pat on the back for bouncing back from those plays and helping the defense shut out the Giants in the second half.
Some of that domination had to do with a banged-up Giants team, but a comeback from Landry strengthens the Redskins’ defense — maybe just in time to face a good Arizona Cardinals offense.
“If we get LaRon back there, that’s another true playmaker over there,” Wilson said. “He’s fast, he hits — I’m excited to have him back there with me.”
Linebacker Brian Orakpo (right ankle) was the only other Redskins player who had limited participation in practice Wednesday.
Keep on trucking
As the second-to-last pick in April’s draft, defensive tackle Chris Neild was almost “Mr. Irrelevant.” Making the Redskins was even considered a surprise - as was his debut performance that featured two sacks.
But the man who earned the nickname “The Truck” back in sixth grade because he always fouled out of basketball games quickly by running players over hopes to keep his improbable run going against Arizona.
“I don’t know if I can duplicate what I did last week but [I’ll] just try to do my job and relieve Barry [Cofield] of his duties whenever he’s tired,” Neild said.
On Neild’s first sack, he actually ran into teammate Kedric Golston because he couldn’t hear the blitz change in a loud stadium.
“It was a missed assignment, but it turned out pretty good,” he said.
Grossman on run balance
As much as Tim Hightower wasn’t thrilled with his overall production Sunday (72 yards and a touchdown), the running back kept the Giants’ defense off quarterback Rex Grossman’s back. Hightower’s ability to make a big play happen should continue to aid the Redskins offense.
“We were one or two blocks away from really hitting the big one,” Grossman said. “That’s what this running game is all about. You never know when that 50-yarder is coming.”
• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.
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