Donovan McNabb will miss pre-season game against the Jets
Normally, the third pre-season game will showcase a team’s starters from a lengthy period of time as they aim to correct minor details and put the finishing touches in preparation for week one of the 2010 regular season.
But that will not be the case on Friday night when the Washington Redskins play the New York Jets. The Redskins are the latest team to have been hit by the injury bug that has plagued numerous teams across the league this pre-season. Newly acquired quarterback Donavan McNabb will not suit up for this week’s pre-season contest due to an ankle injury sustained in last week's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
"It's quite sore," Coach Mike Shanahan said, "and I don't think he could go if it was a regular season game. He's got to rehab it and hopefully get it better."
Washington fans collectively held their breath when McNabb hobbled off the field in pain because without him, the Redskins are doomed for another dismal season. McNabb was wearing a protective boot around his ankle and watched practice from the sidelines on Tuesday.
Shanahan is remaining optimistic and offered his input saying he doesn’t think McNabb has a "bad ankle sprain" and that the veteran quarterback has been walking on the treadmill to rehab the injury as quickly as possible as. McNabb has struggled thus far in his two exhibitions completing 16 of 34 passes for 264 yards for a mediocre QB rating of 71.2. He also tossed one touchdown and one interception, showing that the 12 year veteran is having a tough time adjusting to a new style of offence.
It is presumed that he might see very limited action in the pre-season finale, next Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, depending how fast the ankle heals. McNabb is likely to be back for and ready to compete against their divisional rivals, the Dallas the Cowboys for the opener.
Reliable fullback Mike Sellers will also miss Friday’s game after spraining his left knee last week. No word yet on the severity of the injury or when he is expected to return.
While both these veterans have secured their spot on the team, not everyone has been as fortunate. Receiver Malcolm Kelly, who hurt his hamstring at “h**l week,” an annual optional workout hosted by McNabb in Arizona one week before the start of training camp. Kelly has been limited at practices since his injury and has not seen any pre-season games yet.
"Let's not count anybody out," Shanahan said. "Let's take it day by day. I saw him run some routes out there today. He looked a lot better, almost full-speed straight ahead. Hopefully he'll be able to go next week."
New York has been injury-free for the most part and the Jets' first-team is expected to see its most extensive action of the pre-season. The Jets (1-1) have looked shaky thus far in the warm-ups losing to the New York Giants 31-16 and winning 9-3 win against the Carolina Panthers last Saturday.
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