Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan made the announcement that veteran defensive end Adam Carriker had been cleared to return to official team workouts after showing significant progress from a quad injury that has robbed him of 18 games.
It has been a long road back for Carriker, who has reportedly had several follow-up procedures and setbacks on the original injury.
Shanahan said that the return to practice was unlikely to result in playing time this season, but that it was a step in the right direction.
"Even though he's on the 21-day list, it's a very longshot he would be up," he said. "He's doing rehab. He's lifting weights, working extremely hard, but it'd be a minor miracle if he came back this year."
But that small sliver of possibility was enough that the team felt better about activation than putting him directly on injured reserve.
"Either way, he's going to be IR'd if we don't activate him in 21 days," Shanahan said of the rules surrounding the PUP list. "I said there's still a chance – there's a longshot, so that's why we activate him.
"Basically he's IR'd if he doesn't practice so it's the same thing. I do believe in miracles, by the way."
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No Ends In Sight
While the first injury report will not need to be filed until Thursday, the Redskins find themselves with a shortage at defensive end.
Stephen Bowen has played through a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for several weeks, but aggravated the injury enough to leave Sunday's game early.
As his teammates gathered for the first practice of Week 12, Bowen was sidelined, unable to practice.
Bowen has played through this type of injury before, suffering the same injury in his left knee in 2011.
Bowen leads all defensive ends on the team with 29 tackles, three for a loss, 14 quarterback pressures/hits and two passes defensed.
He is likely to be spelled by Kedric Golston and Chris Baker if he is limited in any way.
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Unofficial Injury Report
The first Redskins injury report for Week 12 will be distributed following tomorrow's practice. Head coach Mike Shanahan did announce an informal report following today's practice, however.
- Receiver Leonard Hankerson (knee), DNP
- Tight end Jordan Reed (concussion), DNP
- Defensive end Stephen Bowen (knee) DNP
- Cornerback Josh Wilson (toe), DNP
- Safety Jose Gumbs (ankle), DNP
- Cornerback E.J. Biggers, FP.
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