London Fletcher sat out practice for the third consecutive day on Friday due to a foot injury.
He was one of six Redskins starters--including Andre Carter, Kedric Golston, Cornelius Griffin, Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels--listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
Fletcher said after practice that he would be a game time decision.
"I feel better, just not 100 percent--but who is 100 percent at this stage of the season?" Fletcher said.
Asked about his status, Fletcher said: "It's still up in the air. I'm hopeful that I can play, but right now I couldn't say definitively."
Head coach Jim Zorn said that Fletcher's availability would depend on how well he can push off his foot.
"If we can get the little irritation isolated and braced, he may be able to go," Zorn said. "He wants to play, but it will be a pain tolerance issue."
Fletcher's absence is a key because the Giants enter Sunday with the NFL's top-ranked ground game.
Brandon Jacobs spearheads the Giants' rushing attack, even though he has been slowed by a knee injury and is listed as questionable for the game. So is Ahmad Bradshaw, a change-of-pace back who has a neck injury.
For the Redskins, complicating matters is the absence of Marcus Washington, who remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
If Fletcher is unable to go, then H.B. Blades would start at middle linebacker and Alfred Fincher would start at strong-side linebacker in place of Marcus Washington
If Fletcher plays, then Blades would shift over and replace Washington.
The Redskins' defensive line could also be shorthanded for the Giants game, as Carter and Golston also did not practice on Friday.
Carter has a foot injury that he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks last week, while Golston has bone spurs in his ankle.
Griffin was able to practice fully on Friday despite a lingering shoulder injury that he tweaked in the Seahawks game.
If Carter can't go, then Demetric Evans would likely start in his place at defensive end. Chris Wilson, Rob Jackson and Erasmus James would serve as backups.
At defensive tackle, Anthony Montgomery, Lorenzo Alexander and Ryan Boschetti would get the bulk of playing time if Griffin and Golston are sidelined.
On the offensive side of the ball, Portis and Samuels are both "50-50" in terms of whether they'll be able to play.
Portis and Samuels have been struggling with knee injuries the last few weeks, but they have been able to suit up and play.
Regarding Portis, Zorn said: "There's a chance he'll be there, but he's questionable."
Sunday's game against the NFC East-leading Giants is a critical one as the Redskins try to keep pace in the playoff race.
Zorn is looking for backups to emerge in a big way.
"That's why football is a great team sport," he said. "The other guys will rise up. H.B. Blades practiced hard all week. He was very vocal. Other guys were just as vocal helping the whole situation.
"On the defensive line, we get Anthony Montgomery back [from an Achilles injury], so he's a big factor this week. Everybody has to step up. We have to dig down."
Fletcher has a 130-game consecutive games streak on the line.
He hopes to be able to overcome the injury.
"I've had injuries in the past but I've just had to suck it up and deal with it," Fletcher said. "This one is a different type of injury than I've had before."
-- SUISHAM'S LEG
Shaun Suisham's missed 43-yard field goal last week was not the result of a tired leg, Jim Zorn said.
Instead, Suisham has not been kicking the ball in the right spot to generate enough velocity and didstance.
"I think his kickoffs are a matter of him controlling the rotation of the ball," Zorn said. "When you see ball really spinning, the kicker is not getting enough of the ball. That's really all he's doing.
"[On field goals], if there's a little more wind against him, then he might have to drive it a little bit more, but he's very capable of making those."
-- FOR GIANTS, BURRESS OUT
The Redskins won't have to contend with wide receiver Plaxico Burress in Sunday's game against the Giants.
Burress has been listed as out for the game due to a hamstring injury.
Burress had a big game in Week 1 against the Redskins, catching 10 passes for 133 yards.
Dominik Hixon, a fourth-year pro with a career-high 21 catches for 302 yards and one TD this season, is listed as the backup to Burress.
-- PRACTICE SQUAD ADDITION
The Redskins have signed safety Michael Grant to their practice squad, the team announced on Thursday. Grant fills the spot vacated by Matterral Richardson, who was signed to the Houston Texans active roster.
The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Grant went to training camp with Jacksonville this season after the Jaguars signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas. He also spent two weeks on Kansas City's practice squad this season from Oct. 29-Nov. 11.
Grant, 22, was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Razorbacks.
