Coaches are planing to rotate Kareem Moore, Reed Doughty and possibly Chris Horton at free safety.
Moore has experienced soreness and swelling in his knee in recent weeks, head coach Mike Shanahan said.
Moore returned in Week 3 from a sprained knee suffered during preseason. The injury required arthroscopic knee surgery.
"He probably came back a little too quick," Shanahan said. "He played a little too much...Hopefully the bye will help it and he can get back to normal."
In last Sunday's game at Chicago, Doughty started the game at free safety and recorded two tackles. Moore saw action in the second half at free safety and also recorded two tackles.
Alternating at safety is nothing new for Doughty.
He split time with Horton at strong safety last year.
"That's kind of what we do," Doughty said. "We've done that in the past. We've split time...It's just LaRon is going to play and whoever is in on the other side is just going to have to hold it down."
Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett emphasized that Moore is still the starter at the position.
"I think Reed and Chris are good enough to go in and play," Haslett said. "It's trying to get [Moore] through the bye week and healthy."
Horton has seen minimal time on defense, but Haslett said he feels comfortable playing him.
"We were actually going to put Chris in in the [Bears] game," Haslett said. "The thing with Chris is nothing major, I just haven't seen a lot of him because he was hurt in the offseason and training camp."
-- BROWN, HEYER INJURY STATUS
Right tackles Jammal Brown and Stephon Heyer have been limited in practice this week.
Brown continues to be slowed by a hip injury while Heyer has an ankle injury.
"We're going to judge them on how they're practicing during the week and do what's best for the team," Mike Shanahan said.
Shanahan said he expected both Brown and Heyer would be available to play in this Sunday's game vs. Detroit.
Brown has started every game this season at right tackle, but in last Sunday's game vs. Chicago, coaches alternated Brown and Heyer at the position.
Brown has struggled with hip soreness all season and it has impacted his mobility at times.
Brown suffered the injury in 2009 while a member of the New Orleans Saints and sat out the season after undergoing surgery. The Redskins acquired him in a trade last June.
"There is some improvement, not as much as we'd like," Shanahan said.
Shanahan admitted that he expected Brown would be "further along" in recovering from the injury.
"He has been working extremely hard," Shanahan said. "He's a worker and he's very tough. I don't think a lot of people would actually be playing or practicing with the pain that he's had. But he's working through it and hopefully it gets a little bit better over the bye week."
