ASHBURN, Va. -- Every Washington Redskins player who could walk was on the field for practice on Wednesday.
There's no time now for side sessions with trainers or veteran rest days. With Sunday's playoff game looming against the Green Bay Packers at FedEx Field, players were all business - whether they felt well or not.
"At this point everybody is hurt," running back Chris Thompson said. "Being injured is a totally different story. I'm just hurt right now so I've just got to fight through it."
Thompson participated fully in practice despite a toe injury suffered Sunday at Dallas and lingering shoulder soreness with a torn labrum. At one point on the cold practice field at Redskins Park, he felt pain in the foot and fired a football at the ground in frustration.
Fellow running back Matt Jones is in a more precarious state. He missed the past two games with a hip injury, the soreness spreading into his abdomen after he took a hit in practice the Thursday before the critical Dec. 26 game at Philadelphia. He didn't play against Dallas, either.
Those two are in danger of missing the Green Bay game with Alfred Morris and Pierre Thomas the other options at running back. Special teams could factor into the decision, too. It doesn't appear Washington will consider playing all four running backs.
"Unless (Jones) shows us some major improvement (Thursday) and Friday, he's going to be the odd-man out," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said. "We'll see how he is doing Thursday and if all four are healthy then we have to make that determination come Friday or Saturday."
Jones, especially, must walk a fine line between proving to coaches he can play without further injuring himself.
"As long he's smart during the week," Thompson said. "Gotta get the practice reps in, but as far as doing a lot of extra stuff, especially for Matt, it's being smart. He knows what hurts and what doesn't at this point. If he knows that a cut that he makes here and there might be painful then he just doesn't need to do it."
SERIES HISTORY: 37th meeting. Packers lead series, 19-14-1, and the teams have split two playoff games, including the 1972 NFC Championship Game - a 16-3 Washington win. Green Bay has dominated in recent years with five wins in six meetings dating to 2001. The Packers won 38-20 at Lambeau Field in Week 2 of the 2013 season.
GAME PLAN
--Green Bay has done a nice job all season limiting big passing plays. But the Redskins aren't worried about that. They have so many weapons it's hard for even the best pass defenses to match up. Dallas and Chicago had similar defensive profiles and the Redskins jumped out to early leads on those two teams in wins late in the season.
The issue becomes protecting quarterback Kirk Cousins and that's where the Packers can take a lesson from Dallas. No, not from the 34-23 loss to Washington on Sunday, but in the 19-16 win at FedEx Field on Dec. 7. The Cowboys sacked Cousins three times, but were in his face all day using stunts and blitzes to apply pressure and force quick throws. It doesn't hurt that Green Bay is pretty good at getting to the quarterback with a sack percentage of 7.80, 13th in the NFL. Washington's run game hasn't been much help, though the Redskins do stay committed to it to avoid too many third-and-longs.
On the other side, Washington knows Green Bay is struggling to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That's fine. But they have to prove they can stop big running back Eddie Lacy, too. The Redskins have generally been better when teams try to go up the middle on them. It's when they attack the edge that Washington runs into problems. Both Lacy and James Starks can also do damage on screens - another way to allow Rodgers to get rid of the ball quickly.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
--Redskins CB Will Blackmon vs. Packers WR Davante Adams.
Blackmon has had a nice rebound season after getting cut at the end of training camp by Seattle, but has been beat deep a few times this season. Adams has dropped more than his share of passes, however. Can he take advantage of his opportunities this weekend?
--Redskins TE Jordan Reed vs. Packers LB Jake Ryan.
A matchup nightmare for most teams' corners and safeties, Reed could pose a particular problem for Green Bay. Teams repeatedly used their tight ends late in the season to expose Ryan in coverage. Reed is well suited to take advantage of that weakness with 87 receptions in just 14 games.
