INDIANAPOLIS — DeSean Jackson left the Washington Redskins’ 49-27 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday with a bruised right fibula, as X-rays did not show any breaks in the bone.
Jackson, who was helped off the field with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter, was attempting to catch a pass from quarterback Colt McCoy down the left sideline when he collapsed to the ground and grabbed the leg.
“I’m in definite pain, but hopefully, throughout the week, I get better,” Jackson said. “I didn’t think it was good, but I’m just fortunate that it’s nothing too serious. It’s just a contusion in the fibula, so we’ll just take it day-by-day and get better, man.”
Jackson, who had five catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, was streaking past Colts cornerback Josh Gordy when he fell to the turf and immediately grabbed his right leg. Though Gordy was flagged for pass interference on the play, it did not appear as though Gordy was responsible for Jackson’s injury.
The wide receiver had also missed a handful of plays earlier in the game because of a lower left leg injury. Three plays into the third quarter, Jackson reeled in an 18-yard reception before being knocked down out of bounds by Colts strong safety Mike Adams, and when Redskins fullback Darrel Young hit Adams in retaliation, he appeared to exaggerate a fall in the direction of Jackson’s legs.
“I couldn’t really tell because I wasn’t paying attention to the hit,” Jackson said. “It’s unfortunate if that’s the case.”
Jackson was one of seven Redskins players who left the game with an injury, though the only one on offense. Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, who bruised his right wrist, and inside linebacker Keenan Robinson, who sprained the MCL in left knee, were each able to play through their ailments.
Strong safety Brandon Meriweather (unspecified toe injury), defensive end Kedric Golston (unspecified lower back injury), cornerback Chase Minnifield (concussion) and inside linebacker Will Compton (cervical spine sprain) all left the game and did not return.
Kerrigan forces fumble in Indiana homecoming
In the first minute, it looked like it was going to be a pleasant homecoming for Kerrigan, a former Muncie (Indiana) Central High School and Purdue player. Kerrigan forced Colts quarterback Andrew Luck to fumble on a sack on the Colts’ first play from scrimmage, giving him 9.5 on the season — a new career high.
The Redskins recovered on the Colts’ 15-yard line, but only managed a field goal.
“It’s just how we drew it up at the start. It was just completely awful after that — to give up that many long touchdowns.” Kerrigan said. “When our offense scores 27, that should be more than enough to win a football game.”
That opening field goal was all the Redskins could manage from three Colts’ turnovers in the first half. The Redskins’ Ryan Clark intercepted a pass on the Colts’ second possession.
“When you start the day like that you think you are going to be in for a good day,” Kerrigan said. “But we let them off the hook too many times.”
Minnifield leaves game with concussion
Minnifield began the game as the team’s nickelback with E.J. Biggers still exhibiting symptoms related to a concussion sustained on Nov. 17, but he played on only three drives before sustaining a concussion himself.
The Redskins initially asked Minnifield to occupy the left cornerback role with Bashaud Breeland shifting inside to cover the slot receiver. When Minnifield left, Greg Ducre entered the game in that role.
Biggers did not practice at all last week — which, according to the league’s concussion protocol, made it impossible for him to play against the Colts. Though he was originally listed as questionable on the injury report, he was ruled out in an amended report on Saturday.
Extra points
Wide receiver Santana Moss caught his first three passes of the season, gaining a total of 30 yards. The 14-year veteran, with the Redskins since 2005, has been inactive for six games this season and had played only 18 snaps on offense before assuming a larger role with Jackson injured. In addition to Biggers, third quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receivers Leonard Hankerson and Aldrick Robinson, right tackle Tyler Polumbus, right guard Spencer Long and defensive end Stephen Bowen were inactive for the Redskins. Despite being replaced late against San Francisco by Jackson, Andre Roberts remained the Redskins’ punt returner. He returned two punts, waving the third off for a fair catch, and gained a total of 17 yards. Kerrigan, Young and wide receiver Pierre Garon, who played for the Colts from 2008 through 2011, represented the Redskins at the coin toss, along with Clark and left tackle Trent Williams, as the game captains. Inside linebacker Steve Beauharnais, signed off the practice squad on Nov. 24, played in his first game with Washington. The Redskins have not beaten the Colts since 2002 and have not won in Indianapolis since 1994, when it played in the RCA Dome.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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