There’s likely to be an addition to the Washington Redskins’ Year of the Rookie on Sunday.
Third-round rookie left guard Josh LeRibeus is positioned to make his first career start in Washington’s wild card round game against the Seattle Seahawks because first-stringer Kory Lichtensteiger missed practice all week with a sprained left ankle.
Lichtensteiger, however, is optimistic he will play. The three-year starter expects to test his ankle before the game Sunday afternoon.
“We’ve been experimenting with pretty much everything at this point,” he said. “Tried out a full tape with spat (tape over the cleat) on top; difference brace. I think there’s maybe one other thing we’re going to try, and we’ll see how it feels. If I go out there and feel good Sunday pregame, I’ll get dressed.”
Lichtensteiger is one of the Redskins’ fastest linemen. He has started every game this season after missing all of the offseason and preseason recovering from right knee injuries.
LeRibeus isn’t as fast as Lichtensteiger, but he played athletically and blocked OK in the second half against Dallas last Sunday after Lichtensteiger was hurt.
“I was going a million miles an hour, and it cost me a couple times, but I settled down after that,” LeRibeus said.
LeRibeus believes he will significantly benefit from practicing with the first string all week.
“A lot more work in the playbook, just getting everything down, not asking questions as much,” he said. “As far as that has come, it has come a long way. Now getting in there just knowing what to do, snap-snap-snap, and you’re good to go.”
If LeRibeus starts, he would be part of the third different starting offensive line combination of the season. Last year, the Redskins used eight.
Seattle’s fast defensive line tends to use stunts to generate pressure on the quarterback. That could be problematic for an inexperienced player such as LeRibeus.
Center Will Montgomery said he would do his best to communicate with LeRibeus if Lichtensteiger can’t play.
“I’ll just make sure everybody is on the same page, which we’ve been on all week,” Montgomery said. “I think we should be good out there.”
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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