Vinny Cerrato, the Washington Redskins’ vice president of football operations, said he expects first-year coach Jim Zorn to return despite the team’s 1-5 nose dive after its 6-2 start.
“That question has never been brought up,” Cerrato told ESPN 980 on Friday when asked about rumors of Zorn’s departure. “I hear about that in the media — and where does that come from? It comes from the media. There’s not even been any discussion — so end of discussion. It has never been talked about in this building. It’s business as usual in this building.”
In Dan Snyder’s 10 seasons as Redskins owner, he has employed six coaches.
More pain for Portis, Jansen
Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis didn’t practice Friday after waking up with back spasms. Zorn said he expects Portis to play Sunday against Philadelphia, but Portis isn’t so sure.
“I woke up and didn’t feel like moving,” he said. “It feels better when they’re rubbing on it, but that don’t last long. As soon as they stop, it starts back hurting. Hopefully it’ll be all right [by Sunday].”
Despite a sprained knee, jammed neck and pulled rib cage muscle, Portis hasn’t missed a game. He’s second in the NFL with 1,544 yards from scrimmage, third with 1,337 rushing yards and fourth with 318 touches.
“It would have to be pretty severe for him to [miss the game],” Zorn said.
Right tackle Jon Jansen’s left knee, sprained at Baltimore on Dec. 7, is still loose, so he’ll miss a second straight game. Jansen practiced in limited fasion Dec. 11, but the knee felt worse the next day and he hasn’t been able to practice since. Jason Fabini again will start in Jansen’s place.
“It’s disappointing, but right now I won’t need surgery and they don’t want me to hurt it worse,” said Jansen, whose 2004 and 2007 seasons ended almost before they began because of leg injuries. “And there are so only many guys we can keep [active]. If we keep only seven linemen up, you don’t want to go in with one who might not make it through.”
Defense gets healthy
Unlike the offense, the defense is fully healthy for the first time since Week 3. That includes Marcus Washington, who has reclaimed the strongside linebacker spot from H.B. Blades after missing four games with a left high ankle sprain.
“I’m excited,” Washington said. “This is the longest I’ve ever missed in my [nine-year] career. I never had a high ankle sprain before, so I didn’t know how long I was going to be out. For a while, I was concerned that I wouldn’t get back this year.”
Zorn said Washington looked better in practice as the week progressed.
“He has actually improved each day,” he said. “He was really stiff on Wednesday and then he loosens it up. I was kind of nervous about today because it was so wet, but he made it through. He’s got a smile on his face and working hard. He’s back.”
Cornelius Griffin, who sat out last week’s loss at Cincinnati with an abdominal strain, practiced all week and will start Sunday, sending Anthony Montgomery back to the bench. Fellow defensive tackle Kedric Golston said playing against the Bengals and practicing all this week didn’t make the bone spurs in his right ankle any worse, so he’ll start, too.
Strong safety Chris Horton, sidelined at Cincinnati with a sprained right shoulder, practiced all week and will reclaim his job from Mike Green.
Home woes
The road team has won the past four Eagles-Redskins games and five of the past six. A loss Sunday would give Washington a 3-5 home record for the fourth time in six years and an 0-3 division record against its NFC East rivals for the first time since 2003.
The Redskins have lost their past three at home. They last lost four in a row at home in 2004.
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