ASHBURN —Redskins left tackle Trent Williams returned to practice Tuesday, a clear signal he’ll be ready to play Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Technically, Williams said Monday he would be a game-time decision, and there’s still a slight possibility he could be inactive. But the left tackle, who has been dealing with a bone bruise and a torn ligament in his knee, has played whenever he participates in the team’s final practice of a game week.
Williams missed Thursday’s game against the New York Giants because he was too sore to play on just four days rest. Against Dallas, Williams will have been rested for 11 days.
“It’s a touchy situation,” Williams said. “I haven’t really had to deal with anything like this in my career. Usually I just fight through something for a couple weeks and eventually it’ll heal. But this one is a little different. I’m taking it week by week and if I’m allowed to get out there, I’m always trying to get out there and contribute to the team.”
Williams has missed three total games since injuring his knee in Week 4.
The Redskins won’t release a list of players who will be out against Dallas until Wednesday. However, safety Montae Nicholson (concussion), defensive lineman Terrell McClain (toe), center Chase Roullier (fractured hand) and tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring) all missed their third straight day of practice.
Reed’s hamstring injury has caused him to miss the last four games and Redskins coach Jay Gruden said “your guess is as good as mine” on when Reed will be able to return.
Gruden, meanwhile, called McClain’s toe injury “an issue.”
“We just don’t know the severity as far as how long,” Gruden said. “These big guys who have these toe injuries — there is a lot of weight that he has got to put on there. All the planting and moving around side to side, it’s a little bit more difficult. So we will see what he can tolerate.”
With Roullier’s fractured hand, the Redskins are trying to find a brace that will allow the rookie center to still be able to snap the ball without doing further damage. Roullier, who had hand surgery last week and missed the Giants game, was seen Tuesday snapping the ball in a brace with trainers.
Gruden said Nicholson is still in concussion protocol.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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