TAMPA, Fla. – Nose tackle Chris Neild and inside linebacker Akeem Jordan each left the Redskins’ 24-10 preseason victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday night with potentially serious knee injuries.
Neild “looks like an ACL” tear in his right knee, coach Jay Gruden said, while Jordan was getting evaluated for what may have been a torn ACL and a torn MCL in his left knee. The two were undergoing medical examinations during the time of Gruden’s press conference, leaving the coach unable to speak specifically about their situations.
It was unclear how Neild, the Redskins’ backup nose tackle, got hurt. With 4:49 remaining in the first quarter, Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey carried the ball for a 2-yard gain – at which point Neild could be seen lying on the grass holding the knee.
Athletic trainers immediately tended to Neild, and Gruden and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett walked in from the sideline to observe the situation. He was able to walk to a cart, which took him off the field.
The 6-foot-2, 328-pound Neild had cemented a role as the primary backup to starter Barry Cofield, and with the starters sitting out the fourth and final preseason game, Neild was given the start.
Drafted by the Redskins in the seventh round out of West Virginia in 2011, Neild missed all of 2012 when he tore the ACL in his left knee in Washington’s second preseason game.
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Jordan was pursuing Buccaneers running back Jeff Demps on what ended up being an 8-yard run with 11:45 remaining in the third quarter when he fell to the ground. As he attempted to stand up, extending his left leg, right guard Rishaw Johnson fell onto that leg, with Redskins defensive end Kedric Golston falling onto Johnson.
A seven-year veteran and Harrisonburg, Virginia, native, the 6-foot-1, 255-pound Jordan had frequently seen time with the second- and third-string defenses, lining up at both inside linebacker positions.
Robert Thomas, an undrafted nose tackle out of Arkansas, finished the game for Neild, while Adam Hayward took most of Jordan’s snaps.
The Redskins did not play their starters during the fourth preseason game, choosing to rest starting nose tackle Barry Cofield and inside linebackers Perry Riley and Keenan Robinson.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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