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Injuries could hurt Washington Redskins in playoff chase

By The Sports Xchange
Washington Redskins fans celebrate as the Redskins defeat the Green Bay Packers at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, on November 20, 2016. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Washington Redskins fans celebrate as the Redskins defeat the Green Bay Packers at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, on November 20, 2016. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins are fighting a war of attrition at the same time they are fighting to stay in the NFC playoff race.

The Redskins (7-5-1) didn't get much help Sunday with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both winning to maintain their hold on the conference's final two playoff spots.

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They also might be without two linebackers for next Monday night's game against the Carolina Panthers. Starting inside linebacker Will Compton (sprained posterior cruciate ligament, right knee) and rookie nickel linebacker Su'a Cravens (moderate right elbow flexor strain) are both listed as "week to week" after leaving Sunday's 27-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

That leaves the linebacker corps of a struggling defense in serious question. Washington does have an extra day to prepare for their next game on Dec. 19 against the Carolina Panthers.

But injuries mounted so much last week that coach Jay Gruden and his staff kept practices light. One was even described as a glorified walk-through. That won't change much this week.

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Compton and Cravens are likely to miss the game against the Panthers at least. That leaves second-year pro Martrell Spaight starting at Compton's Mike linebacker position -- the defense's chief communicator.

Terence Garvin would likely step in for the versatile Cravens, who has had a nice rookie season after being drafted in the second round last spring. Garvin has spent the majority of the year on special teams.

Add Compton and Cravens to an injury list that includes starting free safety Will Blackmon (concussion), who missed the Philadelphia game. Tight end Jordan Reed (sprained left shoulder) did play Sunday but was limited to third downs and had just one catch.

Starting center Spencer Long (concussion) and left guard Shawn Lauvao (groin) also sat with injuries and the offensive appeared out of sorts at times despite the return of star left tackle Trent Williams.

"It's the time of year where we're banged up," Gruden said. "You saw our injury report last week and it'll probably be similar. An extra day of healing will be great playing on Monday night. We're hoping to get healthy so we can have a great week of preparation."

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