Devin Thomas was among the Redskins' inactive players for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Thomas sat out practice all last week due to an ankle injury. He was listed as doubtful heading into the Dallas game.
Thomas has started 10-of-14 games this season. He is fifth on the club with 25 catches for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
Malcolm Kelly drew the start in place of Thomas. It was Kelly's first start since Week 4.
He posted four catches for 25 yards in the Redskins' 17-0 loss to the Cowboys. For the season, he has 20 catches for 238 yards.
Kelly had opened the season as the starter, but lost the job to Thomas midseason.
Head coach Jim Zorn said that Kelly has shown improvement despite playing in a reserve role.
"He has got fresh legs, obviously, and he has been working to close the gap that is there [between him and Thomas]," Zorn said. "He is much better coming in and out of the breaks--he is much more explosive now. He knows the offense better and he is playing faster."
"I wouldn't flip that position because Devin hasn't done anything to have that position flipped. He just has a sprained ankle. Malcolm is going to show what he can do."
The Redskins' complete list of inactives was as follows: Thomas, cornerback Kevin Barnes, offensive linemen Edwin Williams and Paul Fanaika, linebackers Alvin Bowen and Curtis Gatewood and defensive end Renaldo Wynn. The third quarterback was Richard Bartel.
-- THE SUISHAM EFFECT
Cowboys kicker Shaun Suisham made his return to FedExField, just three weeks after he was released by the Redskins.
Suisham made his Cowboys debut and kicked a 23-yard field goal and two extra points in the Cowboys' 17-0 win.
Suisham replaced the slumping Nick Folk, who was released by the Cowboys last week.
"Nick was in a big slump and just couldn't seem to get out of it," head coach Wade Phillips said. "We were looking for a kicker. We tried some guys out, and [Suisham] has hit a high percentage of field goals especially [in Washington] this year."
For the Redskins, Suisham converted 18-of-21 field goals, but he missed a 23-yarder in Week 13 that would have sealed a win over the New Orleans Saints.
Suisham also missed two field goals in a 7-6 loss to Dallas in Week 11.
"You're not going to make every kick," Phillips said. "You really go on percentages with kickers, and I think 18 of 21 is a high percentage, and that's what you go on."
-- 'TOUGH MEN' ON THE D-LINE
The Redskins lead the league in defensive linemen with torn biceps tendons.
Both Phillip Daniels and Andre Carter have suffered the injury this season--and continue to play through it. The nature of their injuries is such that they cannot aggravate the injury further. They will likely undergo off-season surgery, though.
Carter suffered his torn biceps last Sunday vs. the Giants. He was listed as questionable for the game but was able to practice last week.
Daniels has played with his torn biceps since Week 5. He recorded a sack of quarterback Tony Romo on Sunday night vs. Dallas.
"This game is played by tough men," Jim Zorn said of Carter and Daniels. "I'm amazed sometimes at what they can do. They even practiced [last week]. They could just sit around all week, but they get out there and work. With a torn biceps tendon--a fresh torn biceps tendon in the case of Andre--it's incredible.
"It's hard to say I'm really proud of them for sacrificing because it's just part of their makeup, part of their grit. You could certainly understand if they took a break, but they won't do it. They want to play."
-- DAVIS MAKING HIS MARK
Entering Sunday night's game vs. Dallas, Fred Davis had caught a touchdown pass in four consecutive contests.
He is the first Redskins player to have a touchdown in four consecutive games in the same season since Chris Cooley accomplished the feat in 2007.
Since taking over for the injured Cooley in Week 7, Davis has registered 33 catches for 389 yards and six touchdowns.
In his previous 17 professional games, he had just 10 catches for 72 yards and no touchdowns.
"I would say he is our most improved player," Jim Zorn said last week. "He really has had some tough games, and competed well both as a blocker and a pass catcher. He has learned his assignments and doesn't make many errors.
"I have been very impressed with his effort from the start of the game to the end of the game. He wants the ball and he wants to do well. It's important to him."
-- HAYNESWORTH STARTS
Albert Haynesworth started Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
That would not ordinarily be news except that Haynesworth was late for last Friday's practice and sent home by Jim Zorn.
There was some speculation that Haynesworth would be sidelined for the start of the game as part of his punishment for being late to practice.
Said Zorn last Friday: "I sent Albert home just for disciplinary reasons. I think all will be kept between Albert and I. He wasn't belligerent or nasty to me, and I was not nasty to him. It was just something that needed to be done. It's just between us and our football team, and I hope it stays that way."
Zorn later characterized the incident as "differences in priority."
On Sunday vs. Dallas, Haynesworth posted three tackles, including one stop on a 4th-and-1 play in the third quarter. He also logged two QB pressures.
-- TOUGH BREAK FOR DOUGHTY
Reed Doughty suffered a high ankle sprain in the second quarter of the Cowboys game. He had to be carted off the field.
The injury occurred after Doughty had made a diving interception of a Tony Romo pass--it was Doughty's first career pick.
Doughty got up and raced 13 yards before he was tackled awkwardly by wide receiver Miles Austin along the right sideline.
With one game left in the Redskins' regular season, it's possible that Doughty could be placed on injured reserve this week.
Coaches will update Doughty's status on Monday.
