The Redskins sustained several more injuries during Sunday's game against the Cowboys, and the outlook for the long list of ailing players for the Seahawks is unclear.
Throughout his time in the NFL, head coach Jay Gruden has never experienced the amount and severity of injuries that the Redskins have been dealt over the last couple of weeks, a reflection made apparent by him reading the laundry list of names and body parts ailing after Sunday's loss to the Cowboys.
Among the chief concerns regarding injuries sustained during the game were defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis, who fractured his hand; tight end Jordan Reed, who strained his hamstring; and tight end Niles Paul, who is in concussion protocol after leaving in the first half.
Ioannidis will have surgery on Wednesday to repair his fourth metacarpal, Gruden said Monday at his press conference, and will hopefully be able to return in a couple of weeks, potentially playing with a cast. Gruden was doubtful that Reed would be able to return for Sunday and uncertain about Paul's status moving forward this week.
As for the offensive line, there was little clarity as to who might be available in Seattle. Left guard Shawn Lauvao, who left Sunday's game with a stinger and decreased strength in his arm, could "miss some time," according to Gruden, while tackle T.J. Clemmings sprained his ankle and will be day-to-day. Center Spencer Long is still listed as week-to-week with knee injuries while tackle Ty Nsekhe (core muscle) and Brandon Scherff (back/MCL) are expected to increase their workloads in practice.
Gruden said that left tackle Trent Williams will monitor his knee injury, which kept him out Sunday. Williams has considered getting season-ending surgery but may decide to play in Seattle depending on how he feels on the short practice week.
Additionally, cornerback Bashaud Breeland, inactive on Sunday, had a clean MRI and was listed day-to-day with a knee injury and groin soreness, which occurred in practice last Friday. Wide receiver Jamison Crowder suffered a hamstring strain and lower leg contusion and will be day-to-day, safety Stefan McClure strained his hamstring and could miss some time, and safety Montae Nicholson is recovering from a stinger and AC joint aggravation.
"The issue is we have got 13 guys that are questionable and we only have seven guys that we can put inactive," Gruden said. "That's the major issue that we have right now. We have to try to get six of those guys up – at least – somehow."
All of the injuries have impacted the way coaches put together game plans (specifically on offense, with the lack of tight ends helping on jumbo run and pass packages) and have challenged the depth of the roster. That's bled particularly into special teams, Gruden said, made evident in some of the mistakes made in Sunday's game.
Overall, Gruden was happy with the way the reserves along the offensive line played, crediting the makeshift unit for performing amongst adverse circumstances and weather. Even if his starters along the offensive line can't practice this week, but are cleared to play Sunday, Gruden said he wouldn't hesitate in putting them in the lineup despite the lack of preparation.
"I'd jump for joy, to be honest with you, so yeah," Gruden said. "We love to get them work, there's no doubt about it, but the most important thing is to try and get them ready for the game. I don't know, if we'd go out to practice tomorrow, I don't know who my left tackle would be. I really don't have one right now. If T.J. [Clemmings] can't practice and obviously Trent [Williams] can't practice and Ty Nsekhe can't practice, we'll probably have to put [Tyler] Catalina out there – he finished the game at left tackle."
Gruden said the physicality of the shorter practice week would be determined with his staff. The team will have a walkthrough on Tuesday and that practice Wednesday and Thursday "will be tough ones."
"I think time will really tell," Gruden said of how the team will respond to the injuries. "I think these guys are a mentally tough group and they've been resilient so far but we've hit some tough times now, we're 3-4, lost three games in our division already. We're behind the eight-ball and we have a lot of injuries, so there's a lot of ways these guys can go. They can feel sorry for themselves or they can dig down deep and play their best ball they've ever played."
