In concussion protocol, Redskins tight end Jordan Reed will continued to be monitored by doctors. The 26-year-old's status for Sunday's game has not yet been determined.
Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has officially been diagnosed with a concussion following some symptoms appearing on Tuesday.
Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed on Wednesday was named to the NFL's 'Top 100 Players of 2016' list, checking in at No. 77.
While Reed has yet to practice this week, he has not yet been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Reed will see an independent doctor on Friday before his game status is ultimately determined.
"We have to just take each individual injury for what they are," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said on Thursday. "We let the independent doctor and our doctors decide on how severe they are. That's all I can say. We obviously want him to get well. He's a very important part of our offense, but we also want him to get better from a personal standpoint."
Reed has played nearly every snap for the Redskins' offense so far this season, leading the team in receptions (33) and receiving yards (316) while hauling in two touchdown catches, tied with Jamison Crowder for most by a Washington player to date.
During last Sunday's 16-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Reed recorded a game-high eight receptions for 53 yards. At no point, though, did Reed take a big blow that could be the pinpointable culprit for his current injury.
"He took a couple shots, but none that were alarming as far as we were concerned, as far as keeping him out of the game, no," Gruden said.
Gruden added that the team is always checking on the players' health, so when he came to the Inova Sports Performance Center at Redskins Park on Tuesday feeling some concussion-like symptoms, the team decided to get him evaluated.
"We're always monitoring them, too – the assistant coaches, position coaches are making sure they're OK," Gruden said. "The trainers are all over the place asking if they're OK. Sometimes they don't get symptoms until a day or two later – with the case of Jordan. These things are weird how they hit sometimes. They're not always plain to see to the human eye. We have to just take the symptoms for what they are, get them treated, and go from there."
If Reed is unable to play this weekend, Vernon Davis and Niles Paul will be "ready to roll." The team could potentially bring in another player (Wes Saxton is currently the only tight end on the practice squad) or even use Ty Nsekhe as an extra blocker, too, but Gruden is confident Davis and Paul can carry the load.
"Those two guys are very good tight ends," Gruden said. "We have good depth at that position with those two. Now we're a little worried about our depth at that position now. We had three good ones, now we have two, so that's why we have the other receivers and the backs, you know. So, I think we'll be OK. Obviously we want him back. He's a big part of our offense and a great player, but the other guys are ready to step up. [Jamison] Crowder will get more looks, DeSean [Jackson], Pierre [Garçon], Vernon, Chris [Thompson], so we have good enough players."
