Redskins show lack of preparation in loss to Chargers following 10-day layoff

CARSON, Calif. | One word kept coming up following Sunday’s loss in Los Angeles: preparation.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said he did not have the team prepared well enough despite 10 days off before the game. Safety D.J. Swearinger termed the team’s run-up to the game as “blah.” The result, a 30-13 blowout loss that was the second manhandling of the Redskins in as many games, had Gruden and Swearinger looking back when assessing what happened.

“It’s surprising, No. 1, disappointing No. 2, and something we have to figure out a way to fix the last three weeks, without a doubt,” Gruden said. “I’m at a loss for words, quite honestly. I never thought we would get beat like this two weeks in a row; one week at all. I’ve got to take time to think about it and figure out what our next step is.”

Swearinger harps on preparation no matter outcomes. He talked about it Wednesday before the game. Then expounded on his concern Sunday afternoon as the sun went down in California. He thought something was amiss well before the Redskins took the field against a hot Chargers team that had won three consecutive games.

“It was just blah,” Swearinger said. “Blah. If you don’t prepare, you’re going to fail.”

Injuries abound, again

Linebacker Zach Brown left the locker room on crutches after being carted off the field. He sprained his right foot. Brown, who came into the game leading the NFL in tackles, was among a handful of Redskins players that mentioned the field at StubHub Center, a structure built for soccer, was not good.

“The one play I went and tried to run, and slipped out on the field,” Brown said. “I just hyperextended it and sprained it. I don’t know [more] until we get back.

“That field’s horrible. It’s made for soccer. It’s not made for football. Basically like you’re playing on this [he banged a crutch on the concrete beneath him]. That field is crap. At the end of the day, we didn’t play nearly our best football at all. The Chargers came in, got the win. They dominated us today.”

Left tackle Trent Williams, who needs knee surgery once the season is over, started the game, but was subbed out by the staff when the score made it clear the Redskins had little chance to come back. Williams said Gruden asked him earlier in the week if “he could go.” He said yes, noting that the Chargers have two of the league’s best edge rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

“I won’t know until I get another MRI if it’s got any worse or stayed the same,” Williams said of his knee injury.

The question for Williams is how much more the Pro-Bowl left tackle will play in what is basically a lost season.

“It will be week-to-week with me,” Williams said. “Obviously, the MRI will probably have a lot do with it. As of right now, going to keep on the same plan.”

Running back Byron Marshall was also injured Sunday when he slipped on the field. Marshall hurt his hamstring and did not return to the game.

Linebacker Chris Carter was taken off the field on a cart because of a fractured left fibula. He also departed on crutches after the game.

Deep balls hurt

The Chargers hit on a 75-yard touchdown and a flea-flicker that went for 51 yards, setting up a 1-yard touchdown. Gruden evaded a question when asked about what happened on those plays. Swearinger and Josh Norman, who were both involved in the play, took different routes to explaining what occurred.

“I take blame for everything that happened today, everything,” Norman said. “No matter short, slant, hitch, flea-flicker, across the middle, deep ball. Take full responsibility for all of it. Put it on my shoulders. Going to carry it. So, don’t blame anybody else. Don’t blame the safeties. Don’t blame the other guys. Put it all on me. My shoulders are broad. I can carry it. We just got to be better as a whole. Right now, we’re not. That’s something that I put on myself.”

“On one of those, the [75-yard touchdown] we didn’t communicate well,” Swearinger said. “I didn’t communicate well. Supposed to roll it back. The flea-flicker’s a good play. Corner got to stay on his man, I’ve got to help him out a little more. Two plays that we’ve got to execute better.”