The Redskins had a brief scare in the second quarter of Friday night's game: left tackle Chris Samuels was helped off the field due to a right ankle sprain. With the offense already missing right tackle Jon Jansen--out for the year with a ruptured left Achilles injury--losing Samuels would have been a significant blow.

Although Samuels did not return, his injury was not believed to be serious. X-rays on the ankle were negative.

The news was a big sigh of relief for everybody, including Samuels.

"When it first happened, I thought it was really going to be a bad injury, but it was fine and I should be ready for Tampa Bay [on Sept. 12, the season opener]," Samuels said.

The injury occurred when Samuels was pushed back on a block into a pile-up of players behind him. Running back Rock Cartwright fell on the back of his legs in the midst of all the players.

"Rock apologized immediately," Samuels said. "I told him, 'It's just part of the game."

Samuels was replaced in the lineup by Marcus Spriggs. The Redskins had already lost right tackle Jon Jansen for the season with a ruptured left Achilles injury. Losing Samuels long-term would have been a blow for the offensive line.

Right guard Randy Thomas sat out the game. He has a mild neck strain. Team officials also did not want to risk him aggravating his knees on the Astroturf field at the Edward Jones Dome.

Meantime, linebacker Clifton Smith suffered a left elbow injury and had x-rays taken during the game. Results of the x-rays were not immediately available, but Smith's injury was not believed to be serious.

Also, Cartwright sprained his right shoulder in the third quarter and did not return to the game.