Portis out for season

The Washington Redskins are expected to place Clinton Portis on injured reserve today, ending the season of their top running back with seven games remaining.

Portis had surgery Monday to insert three small screws into the broken metacarpal bone at the base of his right ring finger. He suffered the injury during a 9-yard run against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The team declined to confirm Portis’ status, nor would it confirm the reason for today’s anticipated roster move: his injured hand or a reinjured left shoulder. Portis was not available to comment.

Recovery time was estimated at three to four weeks for Portis, but the team chose to end his season rather than risk further injury by letting him play games in December. The Redskins are 3-6, and their playoff hopes are slim. In addition, Portis already had suffered injuries to his shoulder, collar bone and ankle this season.

The loss of Portis means new starting quarterback Jason Campbell, who will play for the first time in his NFL career on Sunday, will be without the services of the team’s franchise running back.

Portis set a Redskins record with 1,516 yards last season. He finished this season with 127 carries for 523 yards and seven touchdowns.

Ladell Betts (82 carries, 366 yards) and reserves Mike Sellers (six carries, 27 yards) and T.J. Duckett (seven carries, 40 yards) will become the Redskins’ options at running back.

The season was a forgettable one for Portis, 25.

In the opening series of the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, Portis dislocated his left shoulder while making a tackle after an interception. He missed the rest of the preseason but played in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. He carried 10 times and caught two passes against the Vikings but also hurt his collar bone, an injury that sidelined him for a Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Portis’ best performances came in Week 3 against the Houston Texans (86 yards rushing, 78 yards receiving) and Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars (112 yards rushing).

Portis sprained his ankle against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7 but recovered during the off week.

This season marks the first in his five-year career that Portis didn’t play in at least 13 games, didn’t carry at least 273 times and didn’t gain at least 1,315 yards.

Meanwhile, receiver Santana Moss continues to nurse a hamstring injury, and defensive end Phillip Daniels is recovering from injuries to his right forearm and wrist.

Moss did not play against the Cowboys on Nov. 5 but returned against the Eagles on Sunday.

“Sore, frustrated, all of the above,” Moss said of the leg. “If you asked me if it was A, B or C, I’d choose all of the above.”

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