Jacobs does little in starting role

The opportunity was there for the taking.

David Patten underwent season-ending knee surgery Friday. James Thrash left yesterday’s game before halftime because of a pulled hamstring.

Washington Redskins wide receiver Taylor Jacobs was there to fill in, a chance he had sought for so long.

Jacobs, however, didn’t take advantage of his first start in a two-wideout set. He caught just three passes for 17 yards as the Redskins lost to the Oakland Raiders 16-13 at FedEx Field.

“It was very disappointing,” Jacobs said. “The corner would be real close to you at the line of scrimmage, and at the snap of the ball, most of the time, he would turn around and start running.

“One of their corners runs 4.2, and the other one runs 4.4. When they turn around and start running, what do you do?”

Star receiver Santana Moss and reliable H-back Chris Cooley caught nine of the 14 balls quarterback Mark Brunell threw their way. Jacobs, however, caught only three of the 10 passes for which he was the quarterback’s target.

“When your number’s called, you’ve got to be able to. … This is what you get paid to do,” guard Randy Thomas said of the Redskins’ depleted receiver corps.

Jacobs referred to the loss of Thrash, also a big contributor on special teams, as “catastrophic.” It certainly didn’t help that the Redskins, who opened the game in a three-receiver set, were left with undrafted rookie Rich Parson as their No. 3 wideout after Thrash was sidelined. Parson was promoted from the practice squad just two days earlier.

Brunell admitted that opposing defenses are frustrating Washington’s once-potent downfield passing game by rolling coverage to neutralize Moss.

“When you don’t have your guys, you drop off a little bit, but it’s important for guys to step in there and make some plays,” Brunell said. “They brought a safety over the top the whole time. They pretty much double-covered Santana. They didn’t want Santana down the field.

“We got down there one time on a fade route. That should come as no surprise to us. If that’s the case, we have to find a way to get the ball to other guys.”

Sellers taken to hospital

Redskins H-back and special teams standout Mike Sellers suffered pain in his lower left back and was taken to a hospital after the game.

Sellers was injured during a Redskins punt midway through the fourth quarter when the Raiders’ Isaiah Ekejiuba blocked him from the side. Sellers remained on the field for several minutes before gingerly walking to the bench.

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