Middle linebacker London Fletcher and cornerback Shawn Springs remained sidelined Friday as the Washington Redskins conducted their final practice of the week. But coach Jim Zorn sounded optimistic that both will play Sunday at Baltimore after testing their injuries in warmups.
Fletcher (sprained left foot) missed practice last week as well but still started against the New York Giants. Springs sat out after reinjuring his left calf Nov. 23 at Seattle. They’re both listed as questionable .
Safety LaRon Landry is probable but didn’t practice Friday after tight end Fred Davis kicked him in the calf during Thursday’s session.
“It’s just bruised,” Landry said. “It’s real sore, but I’ll be all right.”
Running back Clinton Portis (neck, ribs, knee) and defensive end Andre Carter (foot) took limited practice. Zorn said he expects them to play - they’re listed as questionable - as they did last week with the same injuries. Offensive tackle Chris Samuels (knee), who didn’t work out Thursday, and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (shoulder), who was limited, both participated fully and are probable.
Defensive tackle Kedric Golston, who sat out the Giants game with bone spurs in both ankles, didn’t practice again and is questionable. Linebacker Marcus Washington (ankle) will miss a third straight game. Cornerback Fred Smoot was back after an excused absence Thursday.
No brotherly battle
When the NFL schedule was released in April, Sunday’s game was noted in the Landry household in Ama, La. It was to mark the first time brothers LaRon of the Redskins and Dawan of the Ravens, both safeties, would meet as opponents during the regular season.
But Dawan, a year older than LaRon, suffered a severe spinal cord injury Sept. 21 against Cleveland and was placed on injured reserve. The Redskins won’t play the Ravens in the regular season again until 2012.
“Dawan was hoping he’d be back for this game,” LaRon said. “But he didn’t heal fast enough. He’s still having a little tingling feeling in some part of his body, but he’s going to be all right for next year.”
Landry is disappointed he has slipped from 97 tackles as a rookie to 58 this year, but defensive coordinator Greg Blache said he hasn’t lost any faith in the sixth pick of the 2007 draft. Landry switched from strong safety to free safety last November and this season has had to adjust from playing with third-year man Reed Doughty to helping rookie Chris Horton.
“LaRon’s grown so much,” Blache said. “We had to ask him to change his role. He went to the back end and played extremely well for us down the stretch. He came back [from a hamstring injury] and is really just getting in form. He’s very physical. He’s got great range. You just keep seeing him improve. He’ll be one of the rocks for years to come.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said watching LaRon on film reminds him of Dawan.
”We really miss Dawan,” said Harbaugh, whose defense ranks second in the league. “I think he was going to have as good a season as any safety in the NFL.”
Rock on the verge
Rock Cartwright’s 69 kickoff return yards Sunday gave him 4,025 for his career, 97 shy of three-time Pro Bowl selection Mike Nelms for second in team history. Brian Mitchell leads the way with 9,586.
“I’m just doing my part,” Cartwright said. “It would be a great thing. I’m happy with my role, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”
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