Randy Thomas and Renaldo Wynn both participated in Friday's mini-camp practice, a positive sign as they return to action following injuries late last season.
Thomas suffered a fractured fibula in Week 15 last season, while Wynn suffered a fractured forearm in a playoff game. Both had participated in Organized Team Activity practices in recent weeks, but team officials had targeted mini-camp as a barometer of their progress.
"I'm ahead of schedule," Thomas said when asked of his rehab. "I'm not 100 percent, but by the time training camp comes around and we get to go against the Vikings [in the season opener], I'll be ready."
Meantime, several players were either held out or limited on Friday. At this point of the offseason, team officials do not want to rush players returning from injury.
Right tackle Jon Jansen and center Casey Rabach were both limited in work with the offensive line, head coach Joe Gibbs said. Jansen continues to recover from off-season surgery on his thumb. Rabach had a skin graft recently to help repair an ankle injury.
"We won't have a problem with Jon and Casey being ready [for training camp]," Gibbs said. "Casey is healing up real well. He wanted to do some things. Our problem is that he is real tender there where he had the [skin graft].
"Our feeling is that we don't want to run the risk of pushing something during mini-camp--when we have six more weeks before the start of training camp."
Offensive lineman Tyson Walter, signed by the Redskins last March, sat out practice due to a high ankle sprain. Walter sustained the injury in May during an OTA practice, team officials said.
Defensive end Nic Clemons had minor arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago and was limited in Friday's practice, team officials said. Clemons was able to walk through some drills with his line-mates, but he watched the rest of the practice from the sidelines.
Rookie linebacker Roger McIntosh was not at Redskins Park on Friday, following arthroscopic knee surgery earlier in the week. He was expected to be back at Redskins Park on Saturday.
McIntosh, Walter and Clemons are expected to be at full health by the start of training camp.
-- BRUNELL UPBEAT
Mark Brunell said Friday that his fractured left index finger is improving daily. The veteran quarterback reiterated that he would be fully healthy by the start of training camp in late July.
On the first day of mini-camp, Brunell watched from the sidelines wearing a Redskins cap instead of a helmet. He tried to stand alongside associate head coach-offense Al Saunders as often as possible, but the energetic coach would often run up-field to congratulate a receiver after an outstanding play.
"Missing [practice] is no fun, but it's still an opportunity to get out there, be with the new receivers and learn the new offense," Brunell said. "I know it's only the spring time, but it's a very important time. We're learning a lot of new concepts on offense."
Brunell sustained his injury in early June during an Organized Team Activity practice session. He has a splint on the finger that will be removed next week.
-- GIBBS ON ROETHLISBERGER ACCIDENT
Joe Gibbs was asked recently about football players participating in extracurricular activities, referencing the injuries suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a motorcycle accident.
Said Gibbs: "You know most of them are young and they want to do things. They love being a part of other spots, yet there's a risk you take. You try to caution them. There are clauses in the contract. I try to caution [players] against skiing. I've always cautioned against motorbikes of any kind."
-- SALAVE'A UPDATE
Defensive tackle Joe Salave'a was the only Redskins player absent from mini-camp. Salave'a was excused so that he could attend to his ailing mother.
Salave'a's absence allows coaches to get a closer look at some of the young defensive tackles on the roster, including fifth-round pick Anthony Montgomery, sxith-round pick Kedric Golston and undrafted rookie Manaia Brown.
