The loss to the Rams on Sunday proved to be more costly than just the scoreboard, as the Redskins placed two starting defenders on season-ending injured reserve.
The diagnoses were confirmed by Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan at his weekly Monday afternoon press conference.
"Adam [Carriker] will be gone for the season with a quad tendon tear, right at the face of the knee," Shanahan said. "[Brian] Orakpo tore his pectoral in a little different spot on the right side, so he'll be gone for the season as well."
Orakpo originally tore his pectoral muscle in Week 17 against the Eagles last year. After offseason surgery and rehabilitation, Orakpo tweaked the injury again during the preseason, and was relegated to conditioning until the regular season.
The defensive coaching staff tried an array of techniques to preserve Orakpo's arm, including allowing him to rush with his hand in the dirt and switch to the left side of the defensive line.
"They feel like he tweaked some scar tissue," Shanahan reported. "Obviously, he felt good enough to play and played very well in the beginning of the game."
Orakpo finishes his season with eight tackles, one for a loss, one-half sack, three passes defensed and a forced fumble. Shanahan confirmed that reserve outside linebackers Rob Jackson and Chris Wilson will compete for playing time in practice.
Regardless or who steps in, matching Orakpo's production will be difficult.
"[Orakpo]'s a guy that can do it all," Shanahan lamented. "He can cover, he can rush, he can play the run, he's very physical, very smart, he's a team player--all of the things you look for in a Pro Bowl player.
"Obviously, we'll miss him."
Carriker was re-signed as a free agent this offseason and looked to provide the Redskins with a veteran option at defensive end, while Jarvis Jenkins recovered from an ACL injury.
Carriker had only two tackles in a little over one game this season, but his role on the defensive line feeds the productivity of the unit. That production will now need to come from the reserves.
"We have young guys like Jarvis Jenkins, who now gets the opportunity to start," Shanahan said. "A year ago, we lost Jarvis, and Adam did a great job; played at a high level.
"Jarvis will get his opportunity. Kedric Golston, Chris Baker, a guy like Doug Worthington from the practice squad," he continued. "That's the direction we're thinking about going right now."
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