Washington Redskins outside linebacker Junior Galette tore his right Achilles tendon just days before the start of training camp, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Galette, who tore his left Achilles tendon last August and missed the entire 2015 season after signing with the Redskins as a free agent, was re-signed on a one-year deal in March and is expected to miss a second consecutive season.
The outside linebacker posted a video to his Twitter account of himself working out with the caption, “Haven’t felt so good best shape of my life and this happens to me now Idk what else to so when does da rain stop.”
The Redskins held Galette out of organized team activities with the expectation that he would return at training camp, which begins Thursday in Richmond. Several times this offseason, Galette posted videos of his progress and coaches and teammates often said he was “explosive as ever.”
“It’s been extremely hard, man,” Galette said in May during OTAs about recovering from the first Achilles tendon tear. “One of the most difficult, adverse situations I’ve had in my life. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. This is what I’ve done with my life, beating adversity, looking it in the eye and say I’ll be better than I was before as a person and as a football player.
“Having a year off from football, something I love to do and is my passion, you just got that hunger. I feel like I’m an undrafted rookie all over again with something to prove to myself.”
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Galette, who recorded 22 sacks in 2013-14 with the New Orleans Saints, was expected to bolster the Redskins’ pass rush opposite Ryan Kerrigan along with second-year outside linebacker Preston Smith.
Now Smith, who had eight sacks in 2015 and came on strong toward the end of last season, will be counted on in his second season. Smith and Trent Murphy rotated at the other outside linebacker position last season, but Murphy put on nearly 30 pounds in the offseason to make the transition to defensive end.
The Redskins were eager to get Galette back on the field in 2016 after his injury and signed him to a one-year, $1.6 million contract in March. Last July, the Redskins had signed Galette to a one-year, $745,000 a week after he was released by the Saints. Galette signed a four-year, $41.5 million deal with New Orleans in September 2014 but was released after a series of off-the-field issues.
“He’s a Redskin through and through now and we have his back,” Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan said at the league meetings in March after the team re-signed Galette. “We’re taking care of him, rehabbing him. He’s bought in with the coaches, which is very important.”
Also Monday, safety Kyshoen Jarrett was waived after the Redskins said he failed a physical. Jarrett sustained a nerve injury in the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys and has been unable to regain strength in his right arm. During one session of OTAs, Jarrett observed practice and was still unable to move his arm. It was unlikely he was going to play this season and the future of his career remains uncertain.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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