Jason Taylor and Shawn Springs returned to practice on Thursday, improving their chances of playing in this Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.
Taylor and Springs have been sidelined with calf injuries.
Taylor was listed as limited in practice, but he said he did "just about everything" during practice, including playing run defense and rushing the passer.
"It felt good to be out there running around a bit," he said. "I could tell I had the injury. Hopefully this is just another step forward."
Taylor still has stitched from the medical procedure to repair the injury.
He has missed the last two games due to the injury. Demetric Evans started in his place.
Asked if he could play this Sunday, Taylor replied: "I don't know. I think I can, but we'll have to see how it responds [after practice]."
If Taylor plays, then his reps during the game would be limited, Jim Zorn said.
"Jason may not be ready conditioning-wise, so we'll have to monitor him," Zorn said. "He'll be part of a rotation."
Springs was full-go in Wednesday's practice. His return boosts a secondary that has been a bright spot for the Redskins this season.
"It was great to see him out there running--and running fast," Zorn said.
Springs missed the second half of the Dallas game in Week 4 and all of last Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
-- GRIFFIN, WASHINGTON SIT OUT PRACTICE
Cornelius Griffin and Marcus Washington sat out practice again on Thursday.
Griffin has a shoulder injury and Washington has a hamstring injury.
Griffin suffered his injury during the Redskins-Eagles game last Sunday.
Greg Blache said that it was "too soon" to determine Griffin's status.
"If he can't go, then Anthony Montgomery and Lorenzo Alexander will have to step up," Blache said.
Washington has missed two games this season, including last Sunday's game against the Eagles, due to his injury.
"He's going to have to practice on Friday to [play against the Rams]," Jim Zorn said. "If not, we'll just shut him down for another week."
-- DOUGHTY DOWN?
Reed Doughty was not at practice on Thursday as he continues to nurse a lower back injury.
Jim Zorn was not optimistic that Doughty would be available for Sunday's game.
"He's probably going to be down," Zorn said. "We're trying to give his back a little break. It's just an irritation."
Doughty opened the season as a starter at strong safety, but he has been replaced by Chris Horton in the starting lineup.
Doughty continues to be a standout on special teams.
-- GATEWOOD BACK ON PRACTICE SQUAD
The Redskins re-signed linebacker Curtis Gatewood to the team's practice squad, the team announced on Thursday.
Gatewood was at Redskins Park on Thursday and participated in practice.
Gatewood takes the place of Johnny Baldwin, who suffered a knee injury on Wednesday. Baldwin had been on the practice squad since Sept. 24.
Gatewood spent the 2008 offseason and training camp with the Redskins.
-- HEYER LIMITED IN PRACTICE
Stephon Heyer was back on the practice field on Wednesday, participating in limited work as he comes back from a shoulder injury.
Jon Jansen, who has started the last two games in place of Heyer, took the bulk of reps at right tackle again.
"Stephon moved quick and his legs are fine," Jim Zorn said. "I just need to see how his shoulder holds up."
Randy Thomas and Pete Kendall returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday's session with knee injuries.
