30/08/2008 12:46 PM
The Washington Redskins may not have defensive end Jason Taylor or safety LaRon Landry - two of their top defensive players - in the line-up for next Thursday's season opener against the New York Giants.
Taylor, who is nursing a sprained right knee, claimed earlier this week that he is a quick healer and that he wants to play against the defending Super Bowl champions.
But Redskins first-year head coach Jim Zorn was not as optimistic regarding the six-time Pro Bowler's chances of returning to the field.
"If he doesn't progress well and he doesn't practice this week, I will probably hold him out and let him have one week," Zorn said on Friday.
"In these next three or four days, we will get a much better feel. If he doesn't practice, I am not going to throw him out there on [Thursday]."
Landry has been hampered by a hamstring injury that forced him to miss Washington's pre-season finale against Jacksonville on Thursday night.
But less than 24 hours later, Zorn remained extremely positive that the second-year strong safety would be able to play in six days.
"I can't tell you that [Landry] is [going to play against the Giants], but I am hoping that he is," Zorn said. "He is practising, and we need him in there."
Taylor, who turns 34 on Monday, suffered his knee injury in last Saturday's exhibition game against Carolina. The Redskins stated that the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year would be sidelined between 10 and 14 days.
Acquired last month from the Miami Dolphins, Taylor leads all active players with 117 career sacks. The three-time All-Pro had 11 sacks last season for a Dolphins team that went 1-15.
Landry was the sixth overall selection in the 2007 draft and recorded 95 tackles as a rookie last season.
Zorn also said on Friday that rookie wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, a second-round draft selection, might not be available for the season opener.
The 51st overall pick in the draft, Kelly had hoped to play Thursday night against Jacksonville after missing most of the pre-season while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
But Zorn claimed that the 6ft 4in Kelly, who was expected to enhance Washington's passing game, could possibly be placed on the physically unable to perform list.
"Malcolm's knee is sore," Zorn said.
"It swelled up at the end of his pre-game warm-ups [Thursday]. We have to develop a plan for him, and I am not sure exactly what that is going to entail. We are going to meet in a short time and talk extensively about him, because it is up and down with him.
"We have got to get some consistency. We have been trying to get him on the field but it has been hard for him. We have to deal with the reality of his knee not responding well right now."