- The Washington Times - Thursday, October 18, 2012

Pierre Garcon gave it a go Sunday trying to play his third straight game despite a lingering right foot injury. But the Washington Redskins receiver didn’t even attend practice Thursday and won’t be on the field Friday.

Because of that and because the foot problem is getting worse, coach Mike Shanahan called Garcon’s chances of playing at the New York Giants on Sunday a “long shot.”

“Right now, we’re going to keep him off his feet and see how he feels. I would say it’d be a long shot unless somebody went down on our football team tomorrow, but we want to get that foot well,” Shanahan said. “The only way we’re going to get it well is to rest him. I’m not going to call him definitely out, but it’s a long shot right now.”

Garcon originally suffered the injury, now characterized as inflammation of the capsule below the second toe, in Week 1. He came back to play two games but sat out against the Minnesota Vikings when it was clear, in his words, that he wasn’t productive while hurting.

Shanahan said Garcon got a shot to relieve pain in the foot Wednesday that was “more localized” than previous injections. He refused to rule Garcon out of the Giants game because of variables that can change.

But it doesn’t sound good, and there’s no clear picture of even how much rest Garcon would need to get better.

“I wish I knew. I wish I knew. Initially, we thought it was going to be a couple days [and] it would get better,” Shanahan said. “Obviously, it hasn’t gotten better; it’s gotten a little bit worse.”

With that in mind, the Redskins are proceeding with caution.

“We’re going to give him some rest and hopefully with a few days rest, it’ll feel a lot better,” Shanahan said. “So who knows? We’ll just wait and see.”

Injured Rocca might be replaced

The Redskins plan to audition punter Chas Henry on Friday after Sav Rocca was limited in Thursday’s practice with a knee injury, a source said.

Shanahan did not provide details about Rocca’s injury. Rocca was not on Wednesday’s injury report.

Henry averaged 48.5 yards on 16 punts in Philadelphia’s first three games this season before being waived Sept. 25. He played in all 16 games for the Eagles as a rookie last season.

Rocca has averaged 44.6 yards on 30 punts this season. He ranks 25th in the NFL in gross punting average, and twice Sunday he punted shorter than 40 yards.

“The past couple of weeks going left, yeah, we’ve had a couple of short ones,” Rocca said before practice. “When you really want to go left and to kick it on the sideline, you have a little bit of a tendency to drop the ball inside, and with that breeze coming from the right-hand side with punters, you put that ball in one spot and then it blows across your body and you hit it a little bit more left.”

Sundberg has cast off

Long snapper Nick Sundberg had the cast removed from his broken left arm last week and is preparing for the next step in his return to game action, which could come in Week 11.

The Redskins put Sundberg on injured reserve with the designation of being able to return. Under the NFL rule implemented just this season, he can begin practicing in a week but can’t play for another two.

“I don’t think they took long snappers into account when they created this rule,” he said. “I think the two weeks to practice but not play are to get back into game shape. What long snapper do you know that needs to get back in game shape? Let’s be honest.”

Sundberg had his cast removed Oct. 10 and can begin practicing Oct. 24. Because the Redskins have a bye in the first week he’d be eligible to return, his first game action could be Nov. 18 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sundberg gained national popularity for snapping the ball nine times despite the broken arm in the Redskins’ victory at the New Orleans Saints. He’s ready for an imaginary movie that will document his playing on despite the injury

“Yeah, Brad Pitt is playing me,” he said jokingly. “I don’t know if you know that, but we look a lot alike.”

Injury updates

Safety Brandon Meriweather (knee) was out again. Cornerback David Jones (Achilles) missed practice Thursday along with Garcon. Fullback Darrel Young (hamstring), cornerback Cedric Griffin (hamstring), cornerback DeAngelo Hall (knee), safety Jordan Pugh (head) and defensive end Doug Worthington (calf) were limited. Nose tackle Barry Cofield (shoulder) and tight Fred Davis (knee) had full participation.

• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.

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