Redskins notes: Fullback Young enjoys the game of his life with three touchdowns

It was the game of Darrel Young’s life.

The genial fullback doesn’t get much attention. The Redskins have so many other options at the skill positions, after all. But on Sunday afternoon against the San Diego Chargers, Young made a difference in a 30-24 overtime victory at FedEx Field.

In his entire career, Young had one rushing touchdown. That came on Dec. 18, 2011 against the New York Giants. On Sunday, he tripled that total by punching the ball into the end zone three times, including the game-winning score on a 4-yard run with 8:59 left in the extra session.

That’s not Young’s normal role. Washington has Alfred Morris and Roy Helu and, of course, quarterback Robert Griffin III to power its running game. But he was ready when called upon.

“We run so many running plays to our halfback sometimes and he’s a blocker and they lose him,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “And so to put him in that situation says a lot about our running game, our offensive line and [Young] does have the skills to make people miss.”

Washington ran the ball 40 times for 209 yards. Six different players contributed – even wide receiver Santana Moss and tight end Jordan Reed. Young carried the ball five times for 12 yards. His longest of the day was the winner. But he scored on a pair of one-yard touchdown runs to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“If you look at my first half, man, it was terrible, man, but they say it’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish,” Young said. “It’s a credit to the coaches and players just to trust me enough to be in that situation – with the ball in overtime.”

Davis sits again

Tight end Fred Davis was a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game and the fourth time this season, while outside linebacker Darryl Tapp was inactive for the first time with rookie Brandon Jenkins inserted into the lineup.

Tapp, the primary backup to Ryan Kerrigan, played only 49 snaps over the first seven games. Also inactive were quarterback Rex Grossman, left guard Josh LeRibeus, nose tackle Chris Neild and running back Chris Thompson.

Meanwhile, safety Reed Doughty was back in action after sustaining a concussion on Oct. 20 against the Chicago Bears.

Not so special

Washington’s special teams unit finds new and inventive ways to struggle. This time the coverage units were okay – even if the return game was again pedestrian. It might have been because of the game situation, but Moss was back late on a kickoff in place of Josh Morgan. That could have just been because of a potential onside kick.

But the kicking game came up short. Kai Forbath had a 25-yard attempt blocked on that long first quarter possession. It was a deflating end to what should have been a productive drive. Shanahan was especially upset because the block appeared to come from Lawrence Guy, who was stationed on the line of scrimmage and not a few steps behind. That’s can’t happen. Forbath also had a 59-yard attempt blocked on the final play of the first half. It was still disappointing because Washington had the wind and Shanahan thought the attempt had a solid chance.

“You move on after any kick. It’s on to the next one,” said Forbath, who hit a key 47-yarder with 6:59 left to put the Redskins up by 10 points. “No point in worrying about the last one. So, I mean, I made the next one, and we’re going from there now.”

Another milestone for Moss

Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss caught his 700 and 701st career passes, a mark only eight other active players have reached. The 700th catch was an odd one, though. Moss ran wide left along with quarterback Robert Griffin and then caught an awkward shovel pass as Griffin was being hauled down by a San Diego defensive player. Moss ranks third in franchise history with 550 receptions.

Rookie hits his mark

Meanwhile, Jordan Reed set the franchise record for most receptions by a rookie tight end. Reed caught four of the five passes thrown his way for 37 yards. He now has 38 receptions on the season. That passes Chris Cooley, who had 37 in 2004, and Stephen Alexander, who had 37 in 1998.