Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan rebounds from benching

It was a comeback performance lost in another galling defeat.

Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan rebounded from being benched last week against the Philadelphia Eagles with a season-high five receptions for 45 yards. But it was tough to enjoy it after a humbling 27-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night at FedEx Field.

Morgan made no secret about his anger after being benched for the first time in his football career. But a season-ending knee injury to wide receiver Leonard Hankerson forced Washington to give Morgan another chance. He channeled that anger.

“I always play angry and got a chip on my shoulder,” Morgan said. “I think that just comes from how I grew up and the way I was raised. A lot of people that have been through what I’ve been through wouldn’t even be talking to you right now…It just added fuel to the fire, I guess. But we still lost.”

Morgan had four catches in the season opener against Philadelphia on Sept. 9 for 51 yards. He hadn’t had more than two in a game since and had not been targeted more than twice, either. Morgan lost the battle for the starting “Z” receiver spot to Hankerson and was fast becoming a forgotten man. By last week, even his job as a return man was taken away.

“I know I can play football whether other people believe I can or not,” Morgan said. “So I don’t really worry about none of that. I just go out there and try to make all the plays whenever the ball come my way.”

Career best for Garcon

Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon caught eight passes for 48 yards. That gives him 75 receptions on the season. That tops the 70 he made in 2011 with the Indianapolis Colts.

Garcon, too, wasn’t in any mood to celebrate or answer questions with any depth or insight. It’s the second consecutive week that’s happened. He was furious after the Eagles loss the previous Sunday. There was less anger this time, but if Garcon had any answers about his team’s struggles he certainly wasn’t sharing them.

“We weren’t running the ball, we weren’t throwing the ball, we weren’t catching the ball,” Garcon said. “We weren’t making plays.”

Davis back in action

Tight end Fred Davis, active for the first time since a 31-16 road loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 13, played just a handful of snaps, many of which came on the Redskins’ final drive. He was not targeted and therefore did not catch a pass.

Davis, the starter at the beginning of the season, has been phased out of the game plan entirely in favor of rookie Jordan Reed, who is still recovering from a concussion sustained in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. Logan Paulsen assumed Reed’s role as the top tight end, while Niles Paul played a hybrid tight end/fullback role with Darrel Young inactive because of a strained hamstring.

Defensive end Stephen Bowen was also inactive after experiencing soreness in his right knee in recent weeks. Bowen tore the PCL in that knee in the Redskins’ victory over the Chicago Bears on Oct. 20. Kedric Golston, who started five games earlier this season, replaced Bowen in the base defense.

Third quarterback Rex Grossman, outside linebacker Brandon Jenkins, left guard Josh LeRibeus and free safety Jose Gumbs were also inactive. Gumbs is still recovering after spraining his ankle Oct. 27 against the Denver Broncos.

While wide receiver Lance Lewis made his debut, playing one snap on offense in the third quarter, wide receiver Nick Williams did not play. Williams, the punt returner in the loss to the Eagles, was active but was replaced by wide receiver Santana Moss, who had only one return for 13 yards and fair caught two others. The Redskins also prepared Morgan and cornerback DeAngelo Hall to return punts.