ASHBURN — The Josh Doctson mystery continues.
Doctson did not participate in practice Wednesday because of an ongoing Achilles tendon problem the Redskins thought had been resolved at the start of the season. The rookie wide receiver was a very late addition to the inactive list in Week 3’s game against the New York Giants. Rashad Ross took Doctson’s place after the latter felt he could not push off well when warming up.
Doctson did not participate in the majority of the offseason or preseason. He played 21 percent of the Redskins offensive snaps in Week 1. That total moved to 28 percent in Week 2, including several failed fade pass attempts in the end zone. Doctson was down to zero snaps in Week 3 and has his coach wondering when he will be available again.
“We’ll see if he can do anything Friday, see where he’s at,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “It’s kind of wait-and-see type thing.”
Is he concerned at after giving the first-round pick three months off before the regular season to heal, then bringing him in slowly, only to see him take a step back again?
“Very, very,” Gruden said. “I’m concerned. We’ve had all these tests, and there’s really nothing there that we should be concerned about for a long-term problem. It’s just, he’s dealing with some pain, and we don’t know why it is. But we have to try to figure out what it is and get it fixed.”
Overall, the Redskins are befuddled by the injury.
“We’ve done all the tests; we just haven’t really found out the issue — what it is, why it’s sore,” Gruden said. “It’s something we’re continuing to work on there. It could be a possibility or a time that we put him down for a couple more weeks or couple more days. We’re taking him off [Monday]; probably set him down [Thursday], see if that helps him a little bit.
“But this is new to everybody, and the key is to get him healthy. We’re not trying to rush him; we’re just trying to see how he feels each given day. If he can go, he goes. And if not, he doesn’t. So we just don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
Pryor finally finding stability
The absence of Robert Griffin III has made the story of another reclamation project come to the fore in Cleveland.
Terrelle Pryor is the Browns’ leading wide receiver through three weeks. His 14 receptions are the same as Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson and his 244 receiving yards are more. After wading into the league with the Oakland Raiders, then being cut by organizations like the Seattle Seahawks and even let go by the Browns last season, Pryor has settled in during the first three weeks with Cleveland this year.
“I always say before I go into a game, ‘I’m the best athlete on the field’ and I firmly believe that,” Pryor said on a conference call Wednesday.
Pryor has thrown the ball, rushed the ball, caught the ball and even has a tackle on his ledger in three seasons in the league. After Griffin was injured in Week 1 and the Browns’ were unsure what would happen at quarterback, Pryor was a consideration. He threw five passes last week in Cleveland’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins. Wednesday, he said he is not in the game plan as a quarterback for this Sunday since Cleveland was pleased with Cody Kessler’s work.
Since Pryor is the clear No. 1 receiver in Cleveland, he could be opposed by Redskins cornerback Josh Norman throughout the game. Norman was assigned to Odell Beckham Jr. during Week 3 against the New York Giants. The first week of the season he played only his left side. The second week, he began trailing Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant late in the game.
“First and foremost, Josh is an awesome corner,” Pryor said. “I’m going to prepare the same way I prepare for anybody. I don’t really look at the guy that’s across the line from me, I go about handling my business the way I want to handle it.”
Jackson sits out practice
Like he did last week, wide receiver DeSean Jackson did not practice Wednesday because of knee and ankle issues. Despite missing portions of practice last week, Jackson played in the game against the Giants.
Cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who was on crutches because of a high ankle sprain after the Week 3 game against the Giants, also did not practice. Cornerback Dashaun Phillips (hamstring) also did not practice, though he worked off to the side with a trainer.
Defensive lineman Chris Baker (elbow, toe), linebacker Trent Murphy (elbow/shoulder) and defensive end Kendall Reyes (groin) were limited in practice.
Channels:
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.