Kicker Billy Cundiff’s job apparently is safe despite missing three of four field goal attempts in the Washington Redskins’ 24-22 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The club will not audition kickers this week, coach Mike Shanahan said Monday afternoon. The 41-yard field goal Cundiff made with 3 seconds left provided the decisive margin. Before that, he missed from 41 and 31 yards, and an ambitious attempt from 57 yards at the end of the first half fell short.
Shanahan was asked Monday whether the Redskins would work out kickers and whether he would consider a change at kicker.
“We’re not going to work out any kickers this week,” he said.
Collision’s effects linger
Safety Brandon Meriweather will miss at least Sunday’s game against Atlanta because his pregame collision with receiver Aldrick Robinson on Sunday exacerbated the MCL and PCL injuries in his left knee, Shanahan said Monday.
“I think we’ll be able to tell in a week’s time exactly the length it will be, but right now he will be out for the next game,” Shanahan said.
Meriweather would have been active for Sunday’s victory over Tampa Bay if it weren’t for the collision, Shanahan said. It would have been his regular-season Redskins debut. He sprained knee ligaments in practice Sept. 3 after initially injuring his knee in a preseason game against Chicago on Aug. 18.
He and Robinson never saw each other as Meriweather ran after a thrown ball and Robinson loosened up in the end zone. Video of the incident shows the two collided head to head. Meriweather fell awkwardly with his weight over his bent left leg. Robinson was unconscious before he hit the ground.
“He was knocked out for over a minute,” Shanahan said. “So any time you’re knocked out for that length of time, you go through a procedure according to the NFL. He’s been with the doctors today, and he feels very good right now. It looks good, but he’s going to have to take some tests over the next couple days.”
Reed Doughty started in place of Meriweather and had six tackles. DeJon Gomes started the first three games in Meriweather’s place, but the Redskins went with Doughty because Meriweather took most of the practice repetitions last week. Coaches believed Doughty, a seven-year veteran, would be more reliable considering the lack of practice time, Shanahan said.
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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