ASHBURN — Washington Redskins cornerback Chris Culliver is out for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, along with cornerback DeAngelo Hall, tight end Jordan Reed and wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
Culliver played all 56 defensive snaps against the Philadelphia Eagles in last Sunday’s 23-20 win despite soreness in his left knee, quad and groin.
“He had surgery on that knee before and he’s just got some cartilage issues,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said on Friday. “It’s just a little sore which is making his quad a little bit weaker. His leg, in general, hasn’t felt right in a little bit of time. We think it’s important for him to really rehab it.”
Culliver had an MRI exam on Wednesday and the results were negative, but he did not participate in practice this week. The Redskins hope the week off will be enough time for him to recover.
“He’s going to get some solid treatment here,” Gruden said. “Get some more today, get some tomorrow, get some Sunday while we’re gone. He’s got a place and get another good week — Monday, Tuesday. Hopefully, he’ll be out practicing on Wednesday.”
Reed, who sustained a concussion against the Eagles, also missed practice this week and will not travel to Atlanta.
Jackson, who sustained a tear in his left hamstring in the season opener, returned to practice this week for the first time since the injury, but sat out Friday’s practice. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday before the team shut down the idea of him returning against the Falcons.
“We need some recovery time for him,” Gruden said. “We thought it would be in his best interest, in our best interest, to give him a little bit more time.
Hall, who sprained his right big toe in Week 3, also did not participate on Friday.
Inside linebacker Perry Riley is questionable with a calf strain that kept him out the last two games. He was limited in Friday’s practice, as he has been all week, though Gruden is optimistic he will be ready to play.
Without Culliver on Sunday, the Redskins will likely rely on cornerback Will Blackmon and rookie free safety Kyshoen Jarrett, who played all 56 snaps against the Eagles as the slot corner.
“I’m comfortable on the field,” Blackmon said. “I’m not comfortable on the sidelines. I’ve started at corner, started at nickel, played some safety. I’m just a football player.”
Blackmon, a nine-year veteran, signed with the Redskins in Week 2 when Culliver was suspended and corner Justin Rogers, now on injured reserve, was dealing with a plantar fasciitis injury.
Since joining the Redskins, Blackmon has played 16.7 percent of the defensive snaps in nickel in dime packages. On Sunday, he expects to line up at outside corner, while Jarrett plays the slot.
“A goal of mine this year was to be 100 percent healthy and ready to go and start somewhere,” Blackmon said. “It’s unfortunate how it happened, we lost a lot of key guys, but the opportunities are there.”
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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