Redskins’ Campbell wants in

By Joe Versage  |   Tuesday, August 28, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Washington Redskins
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With the regular season still in the distance, Washington quarterback Jason Campbell hasn't yet taken a meaningful snap in 2007, but that hasn't stopped him from causing quite a stir among the Redskins' faithful.

On Aug.18 against Pittsburgh, fans at FedEx Field gasped when Campbell absorbed a blow to his left knee by Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel. The sight of a player crumbling to the ground is not for the faint of heart, but when the guy is your franchise quarterback, it is especially unsettling.

One day later, those same fans let out a collective sigh of relief when results from an MRI were revealed. According to doctors, Campbell suffered a bruised knee, but he had no structural damage to his ligaments or cartilage.

Now, with the Redskins' preseason finale looming, Campbell is at it again. This time, he's shrugging off reports that he needs more time to heal. Instead, he claims that he is ready to go for this week's road affair at Jacksonville.

"I'm going to play Thursday," Campbell said in a Monday statement at Redskins Park. "I'm going to go out there and give it all I've got for the first quarter, or however long I play," he said. "The main thing is to get the rhythm going before our first regular-season game."

Campbell may be all well and good in his mind, but tell that to head coach Joe Gibbs and he'll give you another answer. In a brief reaction to his quarterback's optimism, Gibbs said that Campbell will only play if he is 100 percent healthy.

It may take an orthopedic specialist to talk Campbell out of playing, but there are risks associated with returning to the field too soon. Last week, the third-year quarterback was told that his bruise happened between the bone joints, which can cause pain when pressure is applied to the lower leg and foot. Although his knee is stable, a bruise can be inhibitive. Nevertheless, Campbell is willing to play through the pain.

"There is still some soreness that the doctor said will be there for a little bit. The more I do, the looser it becomes. I'm not taking any kind of risk by playing, so I'm okay to go out and play."

A little more time could tell for Campbell, but it may take no time for his coach to count him out. While exhibition games are important for reps and continuity, the Redskins need the 25-year-old to be their go-to guy when the season starts Sept. 9 against Miami. Therefore, look for Gibbs to err on the side of caution if there is any doubt about Campbell's condition.

REDSKINS NOTES

According to USA TODAY, there were two strange coincidences about Campbell's injury against Pittsburgh. During the 2005 playoffs, Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer suffered a devastating knee injury when former Steeler Kimo Von Oelhoffen hit him low across the bow. Palmer's brother, Jordan, is currently listed as Washington's fourth-string quarterback and should make the team's practice squad.

Then there is perhaps the most infamous hit in Redskins history. It took place on a Monday night in 1985, when Washington faced the New York Giants. On that evening, Joe Theismann's career came to a screeching halt when the two-time Super Bowl quarterback was blindsided by linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Theismann sustained a broken leg from the pressure of the sack, and the replay was shown over and over again. Coincidentally, Theismann was announcing the game when Campbell went down on Aug. 18.

When he replaced the injured Campbell and ended a streak of six preseason games without a touchdown (for the first-string offense), last year's third-string quarterback, Todd Collins, was cheered against Pittsburgh. Soon, he may be chosen as the Redskins' immediate backup. In three preseason games, Collins has guided Washington to all 23 of its offensive points and he performed admirably in Saturday's rain-shortened game against Baltimore. Collins directed two drives that ended in field goals and finished 8 for 15 for 88 yards. His main highlight was a 40-yard toss to Santana Moss on the team's opening possession.

As a former member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Collins is familiar with the offensive system of Al Saunders, Washington's assistant head coach and play caller. And at 35, Collins has a lot less wear and tear than most quarterbacks his age. He last started a game in 1997 (when he replaced the retired Jim Kelly in Buffalo) and has thrown just 27 passes since the end of that season. Now the former Michigan star is poised to move ahead of former starter Mark Brunell on Washington's depth chart. But he is not about to bet on it.

"When I go out there, it's not like I'm competing against another quarterback, said Collins in a recent interview. "I'm not trying to be number two or three. When you go out there, you try to be the best and make the most of your opportunity. Then the coach decides what the pecking order is."

Brunell will be in a familiar place on Thursday. He spent nine productive seasons as a starter in Jacksonville, where he holds 35 franchise records. He also led the Jags to two AFC Championship Game appearances. Brunell will face his former team for the first time and could see additional action if Campbell is held back. According to the Redskins' Web site, the soon-to-be 37-year-old has mixed emotions about his homecoming.

"I never have walked into that stadium as an opposing player," he said. "This will be the first. I might go in the wrong door."

Startling left offensive tackle Chris Samuels will sit out the final exhibition game against the Jaguars. It has now been four weeks since he sprained his knee in a training camp practice. Samuels, who has done a number of strengthening exercises since then, feels he should be ready in two weeks for the opening tilt against the Dolphins.

As for Clinton Portis, the long wait may be over. The oft-injured running back is finally feeling healthy enough to return to action, and Gibbs has agreed to up his workload. Portis, who has battled knee tendonitis, will be a game-time decision against the Jags.

"He is making progress, Gibbs said cautiously on Monday. "Hopefully, what we have done is the smart thing in giving him a long rest period and getting him totally healed, so it's not a nagging thing from week to week."

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About Joe Versage

As a native of upstate New York and a life-long fan of the Buffalo Bills, I have witnessed some of the greatest highs and greatest lows an NFL team can endure. But despite a gut-wrenching 4 consecutive Super Bowl defeats, I never lost faith in the Bills and was fortunate to cover them for 3 years ...
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