Despite wearing two casts to protect his two broken thumbs, right tackle Jon Jansen practiced on Wednesday and was optimistic that he would play in next Monday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jansen is officially listed as questionable for the game.
"[The casts] are a little bit cumbersome, but it's what I have to deal with," Jansen said. "It's Dallas on Monday Night Football, so it doesn't matter much."
Jansen fractured both of his thumbs within a span of five days last week. The first break occurred in practice on Monday, Sept. 5 and he was immediately fitted for a splint and cast. The second occurred late in last Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.
Jansen said playing with both thumbs should not be too difficult. He says he does not experience any pain wearing the casts.
"It's a lot more difficult to do things outside of football," he said. "When you come in to play football, they are in a cast and there's not much I can do to [aggravate the injury]. So I'm just going to play with what I've got and do the best I can."
Of course, not having the use of his thumbs means that he's unlikely to be called for a holding penalty.
"I would at least have a good argument against it," Jansen laughed.
-- NOVAK JOINS TEAM
Place kicker Nick Novak participated in his first Redskins practice on Wednesday, one day after signing with the team. Novak, an undrafted rookie out of Maryland, was making plans to attend this weekend's Maryland-West Virginia game when he received the call from the Redskins.
"I had to cancel that flight," Novak said. "I was pretty excited."
Novak has been told that he could play for injured kicker John Hall this Monday night against Dallas.
"As far as I know, they told me I would be kicking," Novak said. "But you never know. It's a last-minute thing. If John feels well, then he'll be the guy. It's really up to them. I'm just out here to prepare mentally and work hard out here on the field all day."
Hall, who strained his quad in the Bears game and was listed as questionable for the game, told reporters on Wednesday that he felt improved. He did not participate in practice.
"We're going to see how John goes," head coach Joe Gibbs said. "He had a similar injury as last year, except not nearly as bad. So hopefully at some point here, he bounces back real quickly for us."
Novak kicked for the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys during the preseason, but was released both times. Don't expect Novak to fan the flames of the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry.
"They gave me a great opportunity," he said. "Because I was there, I was given this opportunity."
-- PARKING SPOT AWARDS
Coaches have once again reinstituted parking spot awards in the lot at Redskins Park. A parking spot close to the front door of the parking facility is given to an offensive, defensive and special teams player following every game.
The Week 1 award winners:
- Offense: Clinton Portis
- Defense: Phillip Daniels
- Special Teams: James Thrash
