The Washington Redskins released starter Walter Rasby and signed Fred Baxter yesterday, swapping one veteran tight end for another in an effort to shore up their struggling offense during the bye week.
Rasby, a pass-blocking specialist, signed a three-year, $2.695million free-agent contract with the Redskins last March and seemed to be a perfect fit for coach Joe Gibbs’ system. The 32-year-old tight end, though, was a mostly anonymous figure in Washington’s offense and was victimized several times by defensive end Alex Brown in Sunday’s 13-10 victory over Chicago.
“I hate to make any changes,” Gibbs said. “But we just felt like this was something we should try and do.”
Never considered a major pass-catching threat, Rasby had five receptions for 52 yards in six games. He takes home the $400,000 signing bonus he received for returning to the Redskins after one season in New Orleans.
Baxter, 33, returns after suffering a preseason knee injury that at the time looked far more serious than it turned out to be. The 12-year veteran crumpled during Washington’s Aug.14 game against Carolina but suffered only a partial tear of his right patella tendon.
He was released at the end of training camp but left with informal assurances from the Redskins that he could return when healthy.
“When I was released, I spoke with Coach Gibbs and I told him my heart was here and I wanted to be on the team,” said Baxter, who has started 50 of 134 games in his pro career. “I got to know a lot of guys on the team and made some friends. I wanted to play for Coach Gibbs. I just prayed and prayed and prayed, and then it happened.”
Though Baxter said his knee is nearly 100 percent healthy, he conceded he’s not in football shape. He’ll spend the next two weeks re-acclimating himself to the Redskins’ offense and hopes to be one of two active tight ends (along with Robert Royal) in Washington’s game against Green Bay on Oct.31.
“I’m going to go out there, work hard and show them I’m ready to play,” Baxter said.
The Redskins also re-signed H-back Brian Kozlowski and released linebacker Brandon Barnes. Kozlowski had been on the active roster for five weeks before being cut last week to make room for emergency kicker Ola Kimrin.
Portis the workhorse
Gibbs has been asked numerous times this week about the durability of Clinton Portis, who is on pace for a franchise-record 408 rushing attempts. And the coach insists the star tailback need only ask if he needs a breather during a game.
Portis, though, has no intention of doing so.
“I won’t ask to come out,” he said. “I feel like I can contribute, and I can’t contribute from the sideline. I want to be on the field.”
Portis, who had a season-high 36 carries for a season-high 171 yards in Sunday’s win, said he’ll get his rest during the week, not on game day.
“Once you get in a game trying to get a win, you’re really not thinking about your carries,” he said. “The time you have to come up and tell them you’re still sore is when it’s time to practice again on Wednesday. During the game, you don’t really think about it.”
Staying put
Kimrin continues to work out with the Redskins and likely will remain on the active roster for the next two weeks before the club decides whether starter John Hall is ready to return from a strained groin.
That means the emergency kicker, who was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts in Sunday’s win, won’t be making any trips back to his native Sweden like he did last week when Washington was desperately trying to track him down.
So what will Kimrin do during the bye weekend while the rest of his teammates leave town?
“I’m not flying anywhere, that’s for sure. I’ve done enough of that,” he said. “I really don’t know. I haven’t seen the monuments yet, so maybe I’ll do a little sightseeing.”
Injury update
Several players sat out yesterday’s practice due to nagging injuries. Tackle Chris Samuels (ankle), cornerback Fred Smoot (shoulder), defensive end Renaldo Wynn (hamstring) and tackle Kenyatta Jones (ankle) were sidelined.
Linebackers LaVar Arrington (knee) and Mike Barrow (knee) and defensive end Phillip Daniels (knee) also missed practice, but Gibbs still believes all three could be in uniform for the Green Bay game.
Barrow, whose serious case of tendinitis has prevented him from playing this season, sounded more optimistic yesterday than he has in weeks.
“I’ve been feeling great,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting stronger and getting better every week. I keep believing, and I feel like I’m going to be out there. I’m going to be a part of this team. I plan on playing this year.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.