Washington Redskins have decision to make on TE Jordan Reed

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has been his team's best offensive player for two years now.

But what was once a promising season has come off the rails as Reed tries to play through excruciating left shoulder pain following a Grade 3 separation in a Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas.

The Redskins now must figure out what to do with Reed, who missed one game on Dec. 4 at Arizona and was an ineffectual decoy the past two weeks in games vs. Philadelphia and Carolina.

Reed has caught just two passes on two targets the past two weeks, has almost no role as a blocker in the run game for fear of reinjury and was ejected late in the third quarter of Monday's loss to Carolina for throwing a punch. Washington now must figure out if it's better off with Reed on the field in Saturday's critical game at Chicago or resting its star tight end and letting him heal before the season finale.

"Jordan is such a factor in the passing game that even if he's banged up a little bit, I think there's some things that he can do in the passing game that can help us, so long as we have the spot available," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said.

That hasn't been obvious in recent weeks, though. Reed and tight ends Vernon Davis and Derek Carrier also had a rough game blocking on Monday. Gruden said it was that group's worst game of the season.

If Reed can't block, isn't helping in the run game and isn't serving as a decoy, then it's hurting both himself and the team to have him on the field. One Redskins player said after the loss to Carolina that "there ain't no decoys in this game."

The anger that led to his ejection is uncharacteristic of Reed, who remains third on the Redskins in catches (61) and fourth in targets (81) despite missing three games due to injury and being a limited factor in two more.

"(Reed is) a pretty laid-back guy," left tackle Trent Williams said "He lost his cool. It happens, man. Football's an emotional sport."