Injuries devastate Washington offense
Washington lost more than a quarter of its starting offense in one fell swoop Monday, with receiver Paul Richardson and guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao all going on injured reserve because they need season-ending surgery.
Head coach Jay Gruden said that Richardson has been playing through a shoulder injury that is now too much to bear. Scherff, a right guard, tore a pectoral muscle and Lauvao, a left guard, tore the ACL in his left knee in Washington’s 38-14 loss to visiting Atlanta on Sunday.
That setback ended a threegame winning streak for NFC East-leading Washington (5-3), which brought in several offensive linemen for tryouts Monday and signed tackle Austin Howard and guards Jonathan Cooper and Luke Bowanko.
Before the signings were announced, Gruden said he expected at least one new player off the street to start Sunday at Tampa Bay (3-5).
“We just have to make sure we stick with the plan. Keep it fairly simple but not too simple,” said Gruden.
Washington already was facing injury issues along its line: Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams missed the Atlanta game after surgery on his dislocated right thumb and could be out another three weeks.
Plus, Morgan Moses’ status is considered day to day, Gruden said, after the right tackle hurt the MCL in his right knee against Atlanta. Fournette practices: Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette practiced for the first time in more than a month and looked like he might be fully healthy for the first time since the season opener. Head coach Doug Marrone stopped short of proclaiming Fournette ready to return Sunday at Indianapolis. Fournette has missed six games because of a strained right hamstring. Allen on mend: Rookie quarterback Josh Allen has resumed practicing for the first time since spraining his right throwing elbow, though Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott says it’s too early to determine whether he can play against the Jets on Sunday. McDermott said Allen began testing his arm Friday and threw about 100 passes in a workout Monday, which translates into an average workload during a normal practice. Chargers change kickers: The Chargers released kicker Caleb Sturgis and promoted Michael Badgley from the practice squad. Sturgis missed two extra-point tries and a field-goal attempt in Sunday’s 25-17 win at Seattle. The six-year veteran is the first kicker since the Raiders’ Jim Breech in 1979 to miss a PAT and field-goal try in three straight games. Badgley is the team’s sixth placekicker since the start of last season.