Skins.com:Training Camp Ends, But Work Continues

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Training Camp Ends, But Work Continues

By Gary Fitzgerald

Redskins.com

August 20, 2005

The Redskins officially broke training camp on Saturday, although there remains plenty of work ahead as head coach Joe Gibbs continues to prepare his team for the start of the regular season.

Most players have moved out of the National Conference Center, where they have stayed since the start of training camp on July 31.

"Normally, we would have broken camp in the middle of this week coming up," Gibbs said. "That's what we did last year. But I figured with the weekend and everything, I was just going to go ahead and end bed check. It doesn't mean we're going to end camp, we're ending bed check."

Players have off on Sunday, with players scheduled to Redskins Park on Monday for meetings and practice. On Friday, the Redskins will host the Pittsburgh Steelers at FedExField in the third of four preseason games.

Said quarterback Patrick Ramsey: "We still have a lot of work to do. But it's good to get home and back into a routine."

This year's training camp was markedly different from last year's in intensity due to the number of players sidelined with injuries, Gibbs said. But coaches made up for it by playing starters longer than usual in the team's two preseason games.

"Why we didn't go harder in our work, and the reason why we played harder in our games, is that we had so many players miss practice time [due to injuries]," Gibbs said. "Even though we didn't have any major injuries, which I'm thrilled with, I haven't been through a camp where you didn't pick up a few injuries."

Linebacker LaVar Arrington and defensive tackle Brandon Noble are the only two projected starters not to play in either preseason game. Both are nursing knee injuries, but they have returned to practice.

The Redskins had a scare last week when safety Matt Bowen re-injured his knee during practice. The injury is not considered serious, though, and Bowen is listed as day-to-day.

During pre-game warm-ups last Sunday, Tom Tupa had a back spasm and he is also listed day-to-day.

Running back Clinton Portis sat out the Cincinnati Bengals game with a sore elbow. Portis's elbow will be re-evaluated later this week to determine if he will play in this Friday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FedExField.

"It'll depend on how Clinton feels," Gibbs said. "We'll see how [the elbow] is toward the end of the week."

Joe Gibbs instructs his players (Don Wright Photo)

Patrick Ramsey (Don Wright Photo)

Cornelius Griffin (Don Wright Photo)

Khary Campbell (Don Wright Photo)

Marcus Washington and Lemar Marshall (AP Photo)

Ryan Clark (Don Wright Photo)

Taylor Jacobs hauls in a catch early in training camp. (Don Wright Photo)

Knocking a pass away. (Don Wright Photo)

Darnerien McCants at the line of scrimmage. (Don Wright Photo)

Lemar Marshall (AP Photo)

Shawn Springs covers David Patten (Don Wright Photo)

Marcus Washington (AP Photo)

Assistant athletic trainer Eric Steward (Don Wright Photo)

Darnerien McCants is covered by Eric Joyce (Don Wright Photo)

LaVar Arrington and Joe Gibbs have some fun with fans after practice. (AP Photo)

Joe Gibbs signs autographs after practice. (AP Photo)