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Redskins Features

Redskins Lunch Box – Episode 9
Michael Jenkins makes his lunchbox debut as the crew regroups after a myriad of injuries. The crew discusses the ugly win against the Tennessee Titans.

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After Pyrrhic Victory, Redskins Face Choices
The Redskins’ 19-16 win over Tennessee came at a heavy cost as player after player was sidelined due to injury. The costly victory will force the coaching staff to make some tough choices.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 5:19 p.m.

By Ryan O’Halloran
Staff writer
CSNwashington.com

REDSKINS PAGE | REDSKINS VIDEO

A whopping 14 of the Redskins’ 53 players were listed on Wednesday’s injury report as the team began preparations for facing Minnesota.

Not including running back Clinton Portis – who will be placed on injured reserve – five players did not go through the no-pads workout: Safety LaRon Landry (Achilles’), linebacker Rocky McIntosh (thigh) and linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, defensive end Jeremy Jarmon and running back Ryan Torain (all hamstrings).

Coach Mike Shanahan said there was no change on Torain and Landry.

Of Landry, Shanahan said: “We have no choice but to rest it because it’s inflamed and he can’t run – it’s in too much pain.”

Landry was in a walking boot and Shanahan said the pain is such that an injection wouldn’t help the injury.

The Redskins got better news on the offensive line front. Center Casey Rabach (knee) and right guard Artis Hicks (thigh) went through a limited practice.

“Sunday it hurt real bad, Monday it hurt real bad, Tuesday not as bad,” Rabach said. “Pain is tolerable – you can deal with the pain, but it’s the instability that you have to worry about.”

Hicks missed the Tennessee game but said he is “very optimistic,” about playing Sunday.

“I’m feeling better than I was a week ago,” he said before practice.

Vikings Re-Group
Leslie Frazier went through his first practice Wednesday as the Vikings’ interim coach since replacing Brad Childress on Monday.

The Vikings are a disappointing 3-7 a year after losing the NFC title game in overtime.

“Just based on the interaction this morning with some of our players, I think we’re moving in the right direction,” said Frazier, previously Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. “We’ll see how things go over the next couple days.”

Frazier, a rising head coaching candidate, got his opportunity under less than ideal circumstances.

“I really haven’t had a lot of time to think about how things happened,” he said. “There have been so many things that needed to be done and addressed in the last 48 hours – one issue after another issue.”

The last time the Redskins faced an interim coach, it was current defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who had taken over in St. Louis. The Rams won 19-17.

Ready If Needed
H.B. Blades played a season-high 32 snaps against Tennessee after McIntosh left the game. If McIntosh can’t go, Blades will get the start at the Redskins’ “Jack” linebacker spot. He usually practices at the “Mike” spot behind London Fletcher.

“It’s not that different,’ Blades said. “The ‘Mike’ makes the calls and does the vocal work. The ‘Jack’ is doing the same exact thing but doesn’t have to say as much.”

Blades continued to handle his special teams duties while also playing well on defense.

“I felt I did pretty well for myself,” he said. “Everybody got put into some weird situations, including myself.”

Macho Excited For Chance
In the span of a year, Macho Harris went from fifth-round draft choice to starting free safety for Philadelphia to being out of the league. Harris hopes the whirlwind has stopped now that he’s signed with the Redskins.

Harris played 15 games (eight starts) for the Eagles but released at the end of this preseason. The Redskins added him for safety depth after a workout on Tuesday.

“I’m blessed to get an opportunity again to be in the league and be in a place I really wanted to be,” he said. “It’s definitely a dream come true.”

The former Virginia Tech cornerback hails from the Richmond area and immediately becomes the Redskins’ third safety.

Quick Kicks
*The Redskins had success in the screen game against Tennessee, completing five passes for 62 yards, including gains of 23 and 21 yards by tight end Fred Davis. “When you play against a team that’s very aggressive with their front four and bringing linebackers and safeties, you want to keep them off balanced by doing some screens and attacking the intermediate passing game,” quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “With the success we had in our screen game, it opened up a lot of things to spread the ball around and get some big first downs.”

*Hicks on playing with Favre last year in Minnesota: “It was a great experience. One of the best guys you want to be around in the locker room. He was a 39-year old kid. It was kind of refreshing and contagious — he brought the attitude of, ‘We’re going to have fun winning.’ It was a great change of perspective.”

*Among the key injuries for Minnesota are defensive end Jared Allen (neck), receiver Bernard Berrian (groin) and Favre (ankle, foot and right shoulder). All were limited in practice.

*The Redskins have a half-day on Thanksgiving, the players off starting at noon.

*The Redskins have been installed as a 2-point favorite over the Vikings.

Contact Ryan O’Halloran at rohalloran@comcastsportsnet.com