ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - The Washington Redskins are shutting down wide receiver Josh Doctson for a few weeks because of a lingering Achilles tendon injury.
Coach Jay Gruden said the first-round pick won’t practice this week and added that it’s safe to expect the Redskins to rest Doctson through the upcoming bye week. Washington plays at Detroit and then against Cincinnati in London before its bye week in early November.
Doctson, the 22nd pick out of TCU, has been bothered by the sore left Achilles tendon since rookie minicamp in May. After being off the field for training camp, he played in the first two regular-season games and had two catches for 66 yards.
Gruden says putting Doctson on injured reserve remains a possibility.
“I think we’ll send him to another doctor, get another opinion,” Gruden said Monday. “I think the plan right now is to probably immobilize him for a little bit, just to take completely the stress off of it for a little bit of time and then see where that leads us.”
The Redskins picked Doctson hoping he’d be a piece of their offense right away and potentially step into a bigger role in 2017 if either Pierre Garcon or DeSean Jackson or both leave via free agency. Instead, it’s looking like a lost season for Doctson.
“I’m frustrated for him,” Gruden said. “I feel bad for him. He wants to play in the worst way. This is the most unique injury that people have seen. Can’t put a finger on why he’s having pain, but he’s having pain. And he wants to play. And he’s not the same guy when you can’t push off because your Achilles is bothering you.”
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