WP:Ramsey Reinjures Foot at Practice -2nd updated version

[TK]

The orginal Post short version can be found here

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32425-2003Dec3.html

Ramsey Reinjures Foot at Practice

Redskins QB May Miss Giants Game

By Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, December 4, 2003; Page D01

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey aggravated the injury to his right foot with a misstep during the Washington Redskins' practice yesterday, imperiling his plan to play Sunday against the New York Giants and perhaps increasing the chances that he will be forced to cut his season short.

Steve Spurrier said Patrick Ramsey was moving well and throwing the ball crisply during this afternoon's practice before he hurt himself.

Ramsey said an X-ray taken after practice showed no further damage to the injured fifth metatarsal on the outside of his foot. But he said his foot was sore again and it was placed back in a protective boot. He and team officials said his status would be reevaluated today, and they continued to express hope that he would be able to practice this afternoon and play this weekend at Giants Stadium.

"I was out there practicing and it really felt good," Ramsey said. "I was throwing the ball well. Unfortunately . . . I went back there and planted on my fifth step and slipped and just kind of reaggravated the injury. It's just a little bit sore. We put it back in the boot and went to the doctor and X-rayed it. . . . The X-rays came back the same as they've been. So there's no change, really, in what's going on. It's just sore. We're going to put it back in the boot and take it from here."

Ramsey did not answer further questions by reporters, hurrying from Redskins Park with his wife to attend a function at the White House, according to a team official. But he said on Monday that if his foot hurt when he practiced this week, he and his doctors likely would make a decision this weekend about his status for the remainder of the season.

He has said he would like to play again this season but has acknowledged that he probably will have to undergo surgery as soon as his season is done. Club officials say they will play Ramsey if he's healthy but will cut his season short if that is in the quarterback's long-term best interests. The Redskins can be officially eliminated from playoff contention this weekend. They have lost seven of their past eight games to drop to 4-8.

Ramsey is suffering from a bone bruise and the aggravation of an old fracture and sat out last Sunday's 24-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints at FedEx Field. His foot was in a cast last week, but the cast was removed Monday. Coach Steve Spurrier and other Redskins players said Ramsey looked good during yesterday's practice before reinjuring himself.

"It seemed like he was moving around well," right tackle Jon Jansen said. "But obviously it's a tough one to play with."

Said Spurrier: "Patrick practiced all day and right there at the end of practice he slipped on, really, a dirt spot and sort of tweaked his foot a little bit. Our trainers wanted to take him in and give him a little treatment. . . . He was walking around pretty well, and he practiced pretty well. So we'll see what happens."

Before the injury, Ramsey looked capable of starting Sunday, Spurrier said.

"He was firing the ball around," Spurrier said. "He looked like he was ready to play. But now, again, we'll have to wait until [today] to see if he continues to look like he's ready to play. But, again, if he slips and falls, then Tim Hasselbeck has got to be ready to play anyway. So we'll wait and see later on in the week."

Hasselbeck made his first NFL start against the Saints. He has played all but two offensive series in the last two games and has gone a long way toward winning the club's backup quarterback job heading into next season.

"I think he did a great job," Jansen said. "We're not asking him to go out there and light up the world. We're just asking him to be a solid player, and he's done that for us. . . . Given some more time, I think he'll continue to improve."

The Redskins almost certainly will be without left tackle Chris Samuels for a second straight game. Samuels has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee and did not practice yesterday. Brandon Winey is scheduled to make his second straight start in Samuels's place after playing well against the Saints, and Jansen said he has been told by the coaches that he would be next in line at left tackle if Winey is injured.

"Hopefully nobody else gets hurt," Jansen said. "I've been told I am [next]. We'll see what happens. If Brandon were to go down, I probably would step in there."

Redskins Notes: The team likely will retain offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. Sources said Jackson had received no official notification from Duke University as of early last night but the school apparently was prepared to give its head coaching job to Ted Roof. Jackson interviewed for the job last week.

Roof went 2-3 as the Blue Devils' interim coach after Athletic Director Joe Alleva fired Carl Franks in mid-October. Franks had a record of 7-45 at the school. Veteran coach Bobby Ross interviewed for the job on Monday. . . .

Spurrier said he is not a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Nebraska. "You all have to quit believing all that," he told reporters. "I can honestly say this is as far north as I'll probably ever live."

Spurrier repeatedly has been linked to college openings but has said he intends to remain with the Redskins at least through next season.

Sources continue to say that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder does not plan to fire Spurrier despite the team's struggles. Spurrier's five-year, approximately $25 million contract runs through the 2006 season. . . .

Spurrier and his son, Redskins wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., said they do not expect the younger Spurrier to become the offensive coordinator at Arizona. He has been mentioned as a top candidate for that job. . . .

The Redskins signed offensive lineman Daryl Terrell, a former starter for the Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars, and placed recently signed offensive lineman Kenyatta Jones on the injured reserve list because of a torn pectoral muscle.

[jbooma]

Sit the man now. It is obvious this foot injury is worse then they are leading on. If every time he steps on it and it gets worse then there is a big problem here.

[xanathos19]

Agreed...have a seat and let Tim H. "pitch it around a little." At least he's not getting pounded on. No use getting Ramsey lit up and shortening his promising career more than it has already been shortened from the beatings this year.