RICHMOND — Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Sunday he thinks linebacker Montez Sweat will be available for Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, despite the rookie having not practiced since Wednesday with a calf injury.
Sweat was kicked in the calf during Wednesday’s practice and has been sidelined since. The Redskins have listed Sweat “day-to-day,” but the team is erring on the side on caution with the injury.
“He’s OK, he’ll be fine,” Gruden said. “He just got kicked in the calf. These things sometimes take three or four days, but I think he’ll be OK for Cleveland. We’ll see.”
Before his injury, Sweat was competing to start at outside linebacker opposite Ryan Kerrigan. The Redskins are high on the Mississippi State product after they traded back into the first round to grab Sweat with the 26th overall pick.
The Redskins have been impressed with Sweat’s size — 6-foot-5 with a 84-inch wingspan — and speed. The 22-year-old ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, a record among defensive linemen.
“I think he is going to make a very big impact,” Gruden said at the beginning of camp. “He is going to be able to have a very long career and very productive career if he works like he has been and just continues to maximize his potential because his potential is through the roof. … He is a guy that can make a lot of money playing this game and I am just excited to get to watch him develop in these early years of his career.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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