The veteran defensive lineman was one of the top stories for the Redskins over the last month, but is now sidelined for the season by a torn quad tendon suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. Cincinnati.
After suffering a torn left quad tendon during Sunday's preseason Week 3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at FedExField in Landover, Md., Washington Redskins defensive lineman Phil Taylor Sr. is out for the 2017 season.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden confirmed the news during his Tuesday afternoon press conference. Taylor will have surgery on Wednesday.
"I feel terrible for Phil because he did a great job at getting himself ready to play," Gruden said. "He's in excellent shape but it's just an unfortunate injury. The rest of the guys have got to step up."
Taylor was turning into one of the best stories in the NFL prior to his torn quad. The former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns hadn't played in a regular season game since 2014 but was named the team's starting nose tackle on the first unofficial depth chart of the year.
Prior to suffering multiple injuries during his final two seasons with the Browns, Taylor was among the most productive linemen in the league during his rookie season as he recorded 59 tackles with four sacks, two passes defensed and a fumble forced.
The Baylor product was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for his efforts.
While Taylor struggled to replicate his debut season due to the injuries, he looked sharp while the team was at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va.
"I was in Cincinnati for three years when he was at Cleveland and I know what a force he can be at nose," said Gruden – the former offensive coordinator of the Bengals – earlier this month. "He was tough to deal with, he really was. We had him for a workout, and I didn't even know he was on the streets. His knee looked better. He was in good shape. He had a whole offseason and did some good things."
In total, Taylor appeared on 23 defensive snaps during the preseason and recorded two tackles along with a sack.
With Taylor now sidelined, the Redskins will look to Joey Mbu, A.J. Francis, Stacy McGee and Ziggy Hood among others to fill the void at nose tackle.
"Those guys have played well," Gruden said. "It's been a constant battle throughout OTAs and training camp, so those guys have gotten a lot of work. Coach [Jim] Tomsula's rotated them in there, different people with different groups – part of the plan."
