Skip to main content
Advertising

News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Gruden: Reed's Hamstring 'Still Pretty Sore'

One day after placing a defensive starter on IR, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said he's still waiting to determine the long-term injury status of his starting tight end.

Jordan Reed, who suffered a moderate hamstring pull seven plays into the Redskins' season opener against the Houston Texans, did not participate in practice on Wednesday.

A look back at tight end Jordan Reed's rookie season. In nine games, Reed recorded 45 receptions for 499 yards--both franchise records for rookie tight ends.

Gruden said the team is going to take Reed's injury "on a week-to-week basis."

"He didn't do anything today, and it's still pretty sore, so we'll just have to continue to monitor him and see what he can do tomorrow and the next day, and keep moving forward."

Gruden said Reed's status for Sunday's home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars is still up in the air.

"I wouldn't say there's no chance," Gruden told reporters. "There's always a chance. But I think the way he's walking around right now, it's still pretty sore for him, and you can see him working out with the trainers."

The first-year head coach said the last thing he wants to do is rush Reed – who is in his second year with the Redskins – back onto the field.

"Anybody who has had a hamstring pull – moderate – it's going to take some time," Gruden said. "When you rush guys back there and they pull it worse, then they're out for longer. The big thing is to make sure he's 100 percent when he's out there so we don't have any recurrence of the same injury."

Gruden said if Reed is unable to go on Sunday, there are a variety of options he could do with that open spot, with special teams capabilities playing "a big role in that."

"We'll see moving forward with only the possibility of two tight ends up," Gruden said. "It could be an extra lineman, could be an extra safety, could be an extra running back, we don't know yet. We just have got to play it by ear and see what happens. Tomorrow after practice, we'll start making a decision."

Gruden on Wednesday also talked for the first time about placing starting nose tackle Barry Cofield on Injured/Reserved (IR). Cofield -- who on Tuesday was given the IR designated to return label -- suffered a high ankle sprain against the Texans.

"It's a big loss," Gruden said. "Anytime you lose a defensive lineman, you don't have that many …big, good football players in the NFL anymore, especially at defensive line."

Gruden confirmed that defensive lineman Chris Baker – who started at defensive end against the Texans – will slide over into Cofield's spot at nose tackle.

"You lose one and you might have a replacement but it really hurts your depth, but luckily Chris Baker is a darn good nose guard," Gruden said. "He will step in – he stepped in during Barry's absence and did a great job against Houston."

Jarvis Jenkins could be a candidate to fill in Baker's starting spot at defensive end, and Gruden said ends Frank Kearse, Clifton Geathers and even starter Jason Hatcher will all likely see more time on the field.

"Now instead of being six deep, seven deep, now we are down to five possibly, so those guys have got to make sure they are in great shape," Gruden said. "But we have bodies to do it – they just have got to do a little bit more."

If healthy, Cofield can return to practice in six weeks, and is eligible to return to game action Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Injury reportReed was one of eight players listed on the Redskins' initial Week 2 injury report Wednesday afternoon.

Defensive end Kedric Golston (groin), linebacker Akeem Jordan (knee) and cornerback Tracy Porter (hamstring) joined Reed as having "did not participate" status on Wednesday.

Limited on Wednesday were safety Duke Ihenacho (ankle), linebacker Brian Orakpo (ankle) and left tackle Trent Williams (shoulder).

And listed as full participation in Wednesday's practice was offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus.

Running read optionRedskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Alfred Morris found much success in 2012 running the read option.

When the linebacker would key in on Griffin III and his running abilities, he'd hand the ball off to Morris, who'd frequently charge ahead for a moderate to big gain on the play. When the linebacker would key in on Morris, then Griffin III could fake the handoff and take off on the edge, using his elite speed to break off a big run.

Defenses seemed to catch up to this scheme last season, however, and Gruden – who was hired in January – has said the team will likely use less of it moving forward.

Gruden said the offense attempted no zone read plays against the Texans, who run a 3-4 base defense, and that running the zone read against a 4-3 defense – like what the Jaguars utilize – can be even more difficult.

"It is a little more difficult because the edges are set a little bit more firm," Gruden said. "We are playing a 4-3 team, but we just did not have any called last week and we might not have any called this week. We will see how the game plan works right now."

Gruden said the zone read "is still part of our game that we will get to eventually," however.

"When and where? We are not sure yet," he said.

.

. .

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content

Advertising