Left tackle Trent Williams made progress Tuesday in working back from a bone bruise in his left foot. As the Washington Redskins prepared for Saturday’s preseason game against the Chicago Bears, he took part in about half of team drills before sitting out the remainder.
“I felt it getting a little sore,” he said. “I just stopped. I just wanted to practice. To me, practice makes perfect. I wanted to get some practice reps in before I go out there Saturday.”
News wasn’t all good for the banged up offensive line, though.
Guard Chris Chester, who expressed confidence earlier in the day that he’d be able to participate in team drills, did not. His sprained left ankle kept him out.
“You could see he just quite couldn’t do it but tried to work through it,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “It was a good sign that he tried, but we don’t want to overdo it where we really set him back.”
“We’re making some really good progress,” Chester said. “We just need to manage it more.”
Neild out for season
Nose tackle Chris Neild was in a tough battle with Chris Baker just to win a roster spot behind starter Barry Cofield, but now he won’t get that chance. Neild is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during Monday’s practice.
“You hate it for them, you hate it for the team, but we know these things are going to occur,” Shanahan said. “Chris is a fighter, and this is just a temporary setback for him.”
Neild played 16 games as a seventh-round rookie last season but was not a lock to make the roster, given Baker’s strong performance in training camp.
Heat gets to Hankerson
Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson had to be carted off the field Tuesday with what Shanahan called “a little heat illness.” Hankerson got intravenous fluids and should be fine. Fellow wideout Josh Morgan also left with dehydration.
Although Shanahan moved the main daily practice to the afternoon during this year’s camp, heat problems haven’t been a common occurrence among players.
“It’s really worked out pretty good, except for that first day when I think it was about 104, 105. That was the only day that it seemed like it was extremely hot,” Shanahan said. “For some reason, today seemed hotter than most days. I’m not sure what it was; the humidity or maybe a little bit lack of wind.”
Helu still sidelined
Running back Roy Helu Jr. sat out his second straight practice with left Achilles tendinitis.
“This is most extreme case of it, but I’ve had instances of it last year,” Helu said.
He missed practice time in the spring with a hamstring strain. That injury indicated to him that he must expand his stretching routine.
“That’s something that I’m improving on and I do after practice a whole lot but prior to practice haven’t done much of it,” he said. “I’m naturally a tight person.”
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.
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