ASHBURN — A day after Washington Redskins tight end, and leading receiver, Jordan Reed said he did not tell team doctors he felt concussion symptoms during the Redskins’ Week 5 win at Baltimore, coach Jay Gruden said the team does not “condone that in any way.”
Reed has suffered at least five concussions in his career. He was hit in the back of the head in the third quarter of the games against the Ravens, but remained in the game. He caught a pass two plays later. Wednesday, Reed said he knew right after the hit in Baltimore that he likely had a concussion. The following Tuesday when he came to the team’s facility, Reed performed poorly on the concussion test. He did not play last Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Reed also did not practice Thursday.
“Yeah, I’m not going to put words in his mouth but I don’t know if he meant he ’hid’ it,” Gruden said. “I think he might’ve meant he knew when he got hit and got it. I don’t know if there is a difference there, but obviously we want our players to be honest, especially with the significance of the concussion. We don’t condone that in any way. I think, like I said, I don’t think really he noticed he felt any concussion issues until Tuesday, if that makes sense.”
Gruden said Reed not participating in Thursday’s practice was “not a setback,” despite Reed going from being limited in Wednesday’s practice to not being part of Thursday’s practice at all.
“We just thought — the medical staff thought — today it was best to keep him out,” Gruden said. “And he’ll get evaluated [Thursday] again — or [Friday], I’m sorry — by the independent doctor.”
Did Reed show signs of needing a day off?
“No, I just think that they have their own way of doing things in the training room and they thought that today was a day that they should keep him off his feet,” Gruden said.
Though he did not play against the Eagles, Reed still leads the Redskins in receptions. He signed a five-year deal with $22 million guaranteed in the offseason.
Jackson held out of practice
Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson did not practice Thursday because of shoulder soreness. Gruden said the team chose to hold him out today. He would not commit to Jackson playing Sunday. Jackson said he is trying to strengthen the area and reduce soreness.
“Definitely [taking] precautions to get the shoulder right first,” Jackson said.
Other than Jackson and Reed, first-round pick Josh Doctson was the only player not to participate in practice Thursday. Safety Su’a Cravens, who remains in the concussion protocol, was a full participant at practice.
Carrier working his way back
Tight end Derek Carrier was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list Aug. 30 after tearing his right ACL and MCL last season in Week 14 against the Chicago Bears. He continued his rehabilitation throughout training camp and the preseason, but was not ready for the start of the season. By beginning the season on the PUP list, Carrier was not be eligible to return until Week 6.
“We can activate him here pretty soon,” Gruden said. “That could be as early as next week, it could be after the bye — we’ll wait and see how he’s doing.”
The Redskins had just two healthy tight ends last week without Reed: Niles Paul and Vernon Davis.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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