Bashuad Breeland missed the season opener due to a one-game suspension, but he's looking ahead to this Sunday's matchup against a talented St. Louis Rams offense.
After a week away from the gridiron, Redskins second-year cornerback Bashaud Breeland was back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon.
It was difficult for Breeland to be away from his teammates and it marked the first time he was unable to play in a regular season game for the Redskins since being taken in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
But he used the week to get himself mentally prepared for a difficult task on Sunday against a speedy St. Louis Rams offense.
"I just tried to clear my mind for football," Breeland said of his week away. "Just rest my body, cause I know this week right here, I'm going to be going in, going out with the wolves."
Breeland will indeed be thrown right in, as he's listed as one of the team's two starting cornerbacks on the latest unofficial depth chart. Twelve-year veteran DeAngelo Hall is the other.
Cornerback Chris Culliver, perhaps the team's biggest free agent acquisition of the offseason, is suspended for this Sunday's game, meanwhile.
Sunday's game will be Breeland's first regular season game since going down with a scary knee injury early on in training camp.
While the injury looked severe at first, the Clemson product's timetable was four to six weeks. He would actually return earlier than expected and even played in the last preseason game.
Not until this week, though, were the signs of his injury gone, as he is practicing without a knee brace.
"Everything was good," Breeland said, referring to his range of motion. "Not carrying it around, nothing on my legs squeezing, everything's just pretty good."
Regardless of whether he would have had to play this weekend's game with the support on or not, Breeland said he's looking at this game just like he does any other.
"Preparing the same way I've been preparing, trying to get ready to get in and go compete," he said.
Last season, Breeland, despite being the youngest player in the group, was the secondary's most consistent player.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said having him back will "help considerably."
"Breeland is a versatile guy," Gruden said at his press conference on Monday. "You know, he can play corner, he can play nickel and he brings a little level of toughness to our defense. He's a great tackler, plays physical, loves the game and competes his butt off. So he's a welcome addition back there."
RELATED LINKS:
-- Bashaud Breeland Returning To Practice
-- Redskins Update Depth Chart For Week 2
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