Smith could fall off roster

The Washington Redskins signed Glenn Pakulak in October hoping they would need only a temporary solution to their problem at punter.

No such luck: The club this week signed Sam Paulescu when punter Hunter Smith aggravated a groin injury, and he could keep the job for the rest of the season. Smith won’t play Sunday at Atlanta, marking the third game out of four he has missed - a development that could cost him his roster spot.

Tight end Chris Cooley, who has a broken tibia, already is claiming a roster spot while being sidelined at least the next three games. Coach Jim Zorn said the team might not be able to keep another injured player on the roster.

Paulescu, 25, found himself in a similar position last season, when he replaced the injured Mat McBriar for Dallas and averaged 41.8 yards gross and 35.2 net in the final 10 games. Smith never missed a game in a decade with Indianapolis; he averaged 43.4 gross and 38.8 net in five games for the Redskins this season.

“I felt good about most of the workouts I’ve had,” said Paulescu, who tried out this fall for New England, Seattle and the New York Giants. “That’s the life of a specialist. You just need to catch a break sometimes. I’m very fortunate to be here.”

This is the second season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger in which four Redskins players will have punted - Hunter, Pakulak, Paulescu and kicker Shaun Suisham, who filled in against Tampa Bay after Hunter was injured in the first quarter. Steve Cox, Jeff Hayes and quarterbacks Joe Theismann and Jay Schroeder punted for the Redskins in 1985.

To make room for Paulescu, the Redskins cut running back Quinton Ganther, who was inactive for the one game the team played since he signed Oct. 20.

Horton, Blades practice

Safety Chris Horton and linebacker H.B. Blades were listed as questionable for Sunday.

Horton suffered a mild knee sprain during Thursday’s practice and was limited Friday, but Zorn said he expects him to play. Blades had his right knee scoped Oct. 27, the day after he partially tore his meniscus. He practiced Friday after working on his own the past two days; he said he plans to play Sunday.

Zorn called the possibility of Blades returning just 12 days after surgery “amazing.”

Tough guys

Cornelius Griffin resumed weightlifting this week, which the defensive tackle hadn’t done since he sprained his left elbow Oct. 4. Griffin missed one game but played the past two.

With end Phillip Daniels suffering from a torn right biceps, the left side of the line has been playing with just two healthy arms.

“It’s football,” Griffin said. “You gotta be a tough guy and go play.”

Just ask Daniels, who returned this year from two torn knee ligaments he suffered on the first snap of training camp last season. Daniels was announced Friday as the Redskins’ winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, given to the player who symbolizes character and integrity and is a good community role model.

“I wanted to really prove to people that you can come back no matter what your age is,” said Daniels, 36. “If you work hard enough, it can happen. I think I was ahead of schedule the whole time I was going through [rehab] because of the powerlifting I did beforehand. I felt good about my chances of coming back. I know me and how hard I work. It was all worth it.”

Dome sweet home

Sunday’s game is a homecoming for cornerback Carlos Rogers, who lives just five minutes from the Georgia Dome.

“I could jog there,” he said. “I’ll have my own cheering section.”

Daniels will, too. About 150 friends and family members will bus up from his hometown of Donalsonville, Ga., about 230 miles south of Atlanta.

“My hometown wants to see me play,” said Daniels, who bought 30 tickets.

Like Daniels, defensive tackle Kedric Golston grew up in the state and played his college ball at Georgia.

“It’s exciting to go back home, a city that I grew up in and love,” he said.