Just four days after spraining his left knee in the Redskins’ loss at Baltimore, right tackle Jon Jansen returned to the practice field Thursday.
He took limited work but could play Sunday at Cincinnati in the first of three must-win games for Washington.
“I did about half the practice,” said Jansen, who wore a brace. “We’ll see how it feels tomorrow after being on it today. Right now, I’d say it’s 50-50. We’ll see how it reacts the rest of the week.
“It’s not the pain,” Jansen added. “I don’t really care about that. I’ve got to be able to move. I want to help the best I can. It might be the last two games instead of this one. If I do something stupid this week, and I miss the last two games and the playoffs [it would be unfortunate]. But if I don’t play and we lose this one, then the last two don’t matter.”
While calling likely starter Jason Fabini “a quality veteran,” offensive line coach Joe Bugel was upbeat about Jansen’s chances of playing.
“Fabini did good for us last year at guard, but don’t rule out Jon Jansen,” Bugel said. “Today was typical Jon. Tape it up, take an aspirin and go out and play.”
Coach Jim Zorn was encouraged that Jansen took some reps, but the 10th-year veteran’s status likely won’t be decided until Sunday morning. So for now, the plan is for Fabini to start.
Fabini, a starting tackle for the New York Jets during his first eight seasons, stepped in for injured right guard Randy Thomas last year and started 13 games. While most of his starts came on the left side, the 6-foot-7, 309-pound Fabini broke in on the right side and at 34, is best suited for that position, where agility is less critical.
“It’s tough at first getting used to being a backup, but at this point I know my role and I have to accept it,” said Fabini, who has played in four games this season. “I still felt I could play when I signed here [in March 2007], but others had some doubt. I think the way I played last year gives them confidence that I can get the job done.”
Bugel hasn’t changed the blocking schemes to accommodate the changes at tackle.
“If you get into all that, you really tie your hands,” Bugel said. “It’s their time to be [heroes]. It happened when we lost Randy and Jon last year and Fabini and Stephon Heyer stepped in and did well. You have to keep moving.”
If Fabini doesn’t start, he’ll surely be active for the first game of his 11 NFL seasons in the city where he went to college (University of Cincinnati) and that’s three hours from his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind.
“It’s pretty amazing that it’s taken this long,” Fabini said.
Rogers, Yoder return
Cornerback Carlos Rogers (stomach flu), guards Pete Kendall (knees) and Randy Thomas (neck) returned after sitting out Wednesday. Defensive tackle Kedric Golston (bone spurs in his ankle) and backup tight end Todd Yoder (mild sprained left MCL) took limited work after resting Wednesday.
Safety Chris Horton (shoulder), defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (pulled abdominal muscle), middle linebacker London Fletcher (sprained foot) and cornerback Shawn Springs (strained calf) didn’t practice again. Horton and Fletcher should start Sunday. Griffin and Springs, who has missed the past two, are less likely. Strongside linebacker Marcus Washington remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
Nine win fan voting
Washington’s aggressive “Vote The Redskins Ticket” marketing campaign worked.
Nine Redskins players won the fan portion of Pro Bowl balloting, which ended Tuesday: running back Clinton Portis (fourth overall), fullback Mike Sellers, Samuels, Griffin, Fletcher, Horton, safety LaRon Landry, kicker Shaun Suisham and special-teamer Khary Campbell. Chris Cooley finished 10th overall but second among NFC tight ends to Dallas’ Jason Witten.
The fan ballots count for one-third of the Pro Bowl tally, with upcoming votes from coaches and players counting for the other two-thirds.
Rosters for the game, which will be played Feb. 8 in Honolulu, will be announced Tuesday.
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