EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo did not play in his team’s season finale against the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Orakpo strained his groin in the fourth quarter of last weekend ’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was limited in practice on Tuesday and Thursday and did not participate at all on Friday.
That Dallas game could be the last for Orakpo in a Washington uniform. The Redskins selected him 13th overall in the 2009 draft. He is an unrestricted free agent in March after a season in which he appeared in 15 games and finished with 10 sacks. That is the second highest sack total of his career. Orakpo also intercepted the first pass of his career and returned it for a touchdown.
“We’ll see. This whole free agent thing is new to me,” Orakpo said. “You’ve got to understand, every year I’m still under contract. It’s all new to me, this whole process. I had a great time being part of the Washington Redskins and I want to continue it. But who knows? You know how free agency is.”
Price for Robert Griffin III grows
When the Redskins traded up in the 2012 NFL draft to select quarterback Robert Griffin III, they didn’t expect the price would grow this high. Because the trade to get the No, 2 overall pick that spring from the St. Louis Rams included Washington’s 2014 pick, the Rams will now choose second overall.
St. Louis switched first round picks in 2012 and in return received Washington’s second round pick that spring and its first round pick in both 2013 and 2014. That last bit is now the steepest part of the deal after the Redskins finished 3-13 with eight consecutive losses.
The Rams have used those picks to pick up others in separate deals and have drafted six players out of the Griffin trade with at least one more to come provided they don’t trade that choice for more this spring.
Forbath a rare positive on special teams
Redskins kicker Kai Forbath was again the lone bright spot on special teams. On a day where punter Sav Rocca fumbled a punt in the end zone before recovering and return man Nick Williams muffed a punt return inside his own 10. Forbath drilled two field goals.
That was the extent of Washington’s scoring on the day. Forbath hit from 31 yards in the first quarter and 49 yards in the second quarter. After having two kicks blocked in the first half of a Nov. 3 win over the San Diego Chargers, Forbath recovered to make his final 14 kicks of the season. In all, Forbath made 18 of his 22 kicks. He missed three games with a groin injury.
Fletcher says good-bye
Veteran linebacker London Fletcher played what is almost certainly his final NFL game on Sunday. He announced his retirement earlier this month. The NFL’s active Iron Man, Fletcher appeared in his 256th consecutive game.
That is the fourth-longest streak in NFL history behind Jeff Feagles (352), Brett Favre (299) and Jim Marshall (282). Fletcher also started his 215th consecutive regular season game, the longest streak by a linebacker in league history.
“Having done something for so long - 16 years - I love this game of football,” Fletcher said. “But it’s time for me to move on, do other things, enjoy other parts of life. I’m going to miss this game, miss Sundays.”
Another milestone for Garcon
Wide receiver Pierre Garcon caught six passes against the Giants. He became the third player in NFL history to record at least five receptions in all 16 games of a season since the adoption of the 16-game schedule in 1978, joining Jacksonville’s Jimmy Smith (2001) and Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown (this season).
Injuries
Offensive guard Kory Lichtensteiger said he sprained the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee with 1:31 left in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Adam Gettis. Meanwhile, defensive end Jarvis Jenkins was tested for a concussion. Jenkins was adamant that he didn’t have a concussion, but said the referee made him leave the game to get checked after hearing teammates ask if he was okay following a second-quarter play.
Morgan sits again
Also inactive for the Redskins on Sunday was wide receiver Joshua Morgan, who also is set to become a free agent after the season and could have played his last game for his hometown team.
Morgan’s effort in recent games has been questioned by the coaching staff, and there was perhaps no better indication of his lack of motivation than on his 12-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter of the game against the Cowboys, when he leisurely strolled out of bounds.
Fullback Darrel Young, who has been hampered by a strained hamstring for the last six weeks, played on Sunday. So, too, did outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, who sustained an unspecified wrist injury last week.
• Brian McNally can be reached at bmcnally@washingtontimes.com.
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