With James Thrash and Malcolm Kelly slowed by ankle injuries this week, the Redskins could turn to rookie Devin Thomas to serve as a third wide receiver against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday.
Thrash and Kelly both sat out practice on Wednesday. They suffered ankle injuries in last week's game against the New Orleans Saints.
"That's a very tough situation for us right now," head coach Jim Zorn said. "We're hoping they recover quickly. If they can't go, then we have to make some adjustments."
It appears one adjustment would be to give Thomas more playing time.
Zorn uses plenty of three wide receiver sets in his offense, so Thomas could see significant playing time against the Cardinals.
Thomas, the Redskins' top pick in last April's NFL Draft, has one catch for eight yards in the first two games. He served as a fourth option at wide receiver.
Zorn said that it's important for Thomas to work on positioning at the line of scrimmage and getting in and out of routes.
"The more reps Devin gets in practice, the better he is looking," Zorn said. "We're trying to bring him along. The hard part for him is doing it alone. When you're out on the field with no coaches out there, you better know what you're doing.
"Out here, at practice, we can help him. There are guys barking at him. Hopefully he's on a fast track of getting himself up to speed."
Zorn recalled several plays in the Saints game in which Thomas flashed potential.
"The deeper routes he's running very well," Zorn said. "It's the short control routes that we have to help him improve. Some of that is a matter of repetition and understanding what disciplined route-running is.
-- DOUGHTY BACK IN THE LINEUP
Reed Doughty was back at practice on Wednesday, after missing last week's Saints game due to an illness.
Doughty will be back in the starting lineup, too.
Chris Horton started the Saints game and impressed, recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
"We're very proud of [Horton's] play, and he was recognized for it around the league," Jim Zorn said. "Now he just has to keep himself ready. Reed Doughty is back in there.
"Reed is over his illness, and we expect him to play just as well."
Elsewhere in the secondary, Fred Smoot sat out Wednesday's practice to rest a hip injury.
-- LINEBACKERS, IN AND OUT
Marcus Washington took limited work in practice on Wednesday as he returns from a hamstring injury. He sat out the Saints game last Sunday due to the injury.
Khary Campbell, who has a thigh injury, was also back at practice on a limited basis. He also did not play against the Saints.
H.B. Blades, who started in place of Washington last Sunday and recorded four tackles, sat out practice due to a knee injury.
Finally, London Fletcher sat out practice to rest a rib injury.
-- TAYLOR FEELING BETTER
Jason Taylor was limited in Wednesday's practice to rest a knee injury.
Taylor has been able to play in both of the Redskins games this season.
"I'm getting better," he said. "I ran around better [in the Saints game] and I had a little more pop and a little more power. I'm getting there."
Taylor recorded his first sack as a Redskin in the first quarter of the Saints game. He took down quarterback Drew Brees for a 12-yard loss.
-- BLOGS AND TECHNOLOGY
Jim Zorn addressed the team on Wednesday and asked that they be careful of relaying information about themselves and the team on the Internet.
The issue arose after Chris Cooley posted part of a tight ends quiz from the Redskins' playbook on his popular blog.
"I just talked about the team, the idea that there's all this new technology out there that people have freedom to use," Zorn said. "But we don't have freedom to use Redskins information and things that are private to us. We don't have the luxury of putting that on anybody's blog."
