FROM WASHINGTON PRESS
The Washington Redskins are trying to rebuild their offensive line five games into their season.
When the Redskins line up Sunday to play the Arizona Cardinals, it's possible the offensive line will have only one player, Chris Samuels, who began training camp as a starter.
The Redskins lost three offensive linemen, center Casey Rabach and tackles Todd Wade and Stephon Heyer, to injuries in Sunday's game against Green Bay. That was on top of losing two others, right guard Randy Thomas and right tackle Jon Jansen, in the first two weeks of the season.
Coach Joe Gibbs is just short of putting out an all-points bulletin, asking men of girth with decent footwork to drop by Redskin Park for a tryout.
"Losing three offensive linemen in a game hasn't happened to me before," Gibbs said. "We carry seven [on game day], and we're always scared to death when we do it."
Finally, Gibbs' fears were realized. "One concern I have is that it makes it tough to practice," Gibbs said. "We need to take a long, hard look at everything there."
Gibbs hopes the injured players will recover enough during the week to play Sunday. That might not be realistic, especially with Rabach. He has a groin injury, and it could be serious. Wade also has a groin injury, and Heyer hurt a hamstring.
The Redskins can find five healthy linemen to start against Arizona.
Mike Pucillo is Rabach's backup, and Pucillo is healthy. If Wade and Heyer are unable to play, Jason Fabini, who replaced Thomas at right guard, can move to tackle.
"That would be some of the consideration, and put Rick up," Gibbs said.
Rick DeMulling, a seven-year veteran at guard, signed with the Redskins on Sept. 20.
However, the Redskins still would lack backups.
Ordinarily, Kili Lefotu would be an almost automatic signing off the Redskins' practice squad. The Redskins drafted him in 2006, and he's been through two training camps as a guard with the team.
But Lefotu was arrested Friday night after a disturbance at a Loudoun County restaurant. Redskin Park is located in Loudoun County.
Lefotu was charged with being drunk in public, destruction of property and simple assault.
Gibbs has yet to talk with Lefotu about the incident.
"There has been so much going on today," Gibbs said. "I need to get all the information before we decide what we want to do."
Justin Geisinger, also a guard and in his third NFL season, is on the practice squad. His pro experience consists of two games in which he played on special teams.
Another option under consideration is moving defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander to the offensive line for a week.
Alexander worked with the offense during the offseason to see where he had the best chance to make the team.
"We wouldn't want to do that, but it's one of the things we've considered," Gibbs said. "He's an unselfish guy, and that would be one way we could help ourselves from the inside."
The NFL trade deadline is today at 4 p.m.
"We'd look at everything, but to be truthful, we don't see much there," Gibbs said.
Gibbs was upset that quarterback Jason Campbell spent so much time looking toward the bench in Green Bay. It wasn't that Campbell doubted his ability. It was that the Redskins had trouble with the communication system between quarterback and assistant coach Bill Lazor.
Lazor gets the plays from associate head coach-offense Al Saunders, and relays them, via the headset in Campbell's helmet, to the field.
"It was intermittent the whole game," Gibbs said. "The NFL says that if the quarterback's headset goes out, you still can send in the plays with hand signals. They [the opponent] do not have to remove their headsets. If everything goes out for all the coaches, then the other team has to take off their headsets.
"One of the worst things that can happen to you at quarterback is you get the play one time and the next time, it's broken."
Gibbs did not say if that was worse than wondering if there are enough offensive linemen available for practice.
Chances are he finds neither very appealing
Happy Christmas.
