ASHBURN — For the second consecutive week, the Washington Redskins will be without inside linebacker Perry Riley, coach Jay Gruden announced on Friday.
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson (strained left hamstring) and cornerback DeAngelo Hall (sprained toe on right foot) are also out against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Cornerback Chris Culliver, who missed his second consecutive practice on Friday, has been listed as questionable. Culliver injured his left knee in Wednesday’s practice and was limited that day. Gruden said the corner is dealing with soreness and inflammation in the knee.
“I’m optimistic, but you never know,” Gruden said. “It’s up to him and how he feels.”
If Culliver is unable to go on Sunday, the Redskins will have just three healthy cornerbacks in Bashaud Breeland, Will Blackmon and Quinton Dunbar, the wide receiver-turned-cornerback who was signed from the practice squad on Tuesday.
In that situation, Blackmon would play as the slot corner, with Dunbar occupying the outside corner across from Breeland.
Blackmon, who was signed on Sept. 15 when Culliver was suspended for one game, has picked up the defense quickly while the Redskins try to steady the secondary amid all the injuries.
When Hall was injured last Thursday in a 32-21 loss to the New York Giants, Blackmon played 29 snaps as the nickel corner after the Redskins shifted Breeland outside.
“He’s played in big games and made big plays in big games,” Gruden said. “He’s a confident guy and he’s a smart guy. That’s what helps. He’s only been here about 12 days. He’s done an excellent job, but football players are football players and he’s definitely a football player that can adjust to just about anything and plays with a high level, high IQ, every time he’s out there.”
Without Riley available on Sunday, the Redskins will again turn to inside linebacker Will Compton. Riley strained the calf against the St. Louis Rams in Week 2 and was inactive against New York. He did not practice this week, but did various agility drill
Compton played 84 percent of the team’s defensive snaps on Thursday against the Giants.
“It’s [a] next-man-up mentality,” Compton said. “We anticipated this situation. We had a good plan going into it and just have to go out and execute.”
The Redskins signed inside linebacker Mason Foster on Tuesday. Foster, who was cut by the Chicago Bears as they trimmed to their 53-man roster, expects to contribute on special teams on Sunday and said he is comfortable in the defensive scheme if needed, despite the late arrival.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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