"It's like going back to high school," Alexander said. "Gridiron football."
The first-year player is wearing the white jersey of the offense in practice this week, instead of his usual defense burgundy. A remarkable series of injuries has left the Washington Redskins in desperate need of offensive linemen for Sunday's game against Arizona, so they've moved the 300-pound defensive tackle across the line of scrimmage and have made him a guard.
"I've got to know the defensive stuff, too," said Alexander, who is attending the offensive line meetings while catching up on the defense's schemes in his spare time. "It'll be a full-packed weekend, as far as watching film and getting the game plan and stuff."
Alexander lined up at the first-team left guard in practices on Wednesday and Thursday, participating in the Redskins' version of "What's My Line?" Todd Wade, Casey Rabach and Stephon Heyer were all hurt in last week's loss to Green Bay, compounding the serious injuries earlier this season to Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas.
"Every day we're redoing the offensive line," assistant coach Joe Bugel said.
Bugel was asked if this week has been more painful than his recent trip to the hospital to have a kidney stone removed.
"Not quite. Not quite," Bugel said with a pained shake of the head. "But it's the first time in my 30 years to lose so many linemen."
Here's the latest of who's-doing-what, as of Thursday:
-Rabach, the starting center, did not practice again or even put on a jersey. Sidelined by a strained right groin, he appeared gimpy as he worked through some exercises with a trainer. Nevertheless, the glue of the offensive line is intent on taking the field Sunday against the Cardinals.
"I plan on playing," Rabach said. "To miss a game, I'd have to be in a lot of pain."
-Right tackle Wade (strained right groin) and left guard Kendall (sore knees and hamstring) practiced. Kendall said he was encouraged by his progress, Wade said he was confident, and both appear on pace to play.
-Backup right tackle Heyer's strained hamstring appears more serious than the other injuries. He didn't practice and appears unlikely to play.
No comments:
Post a Comment