Jansen out to prove he can contribute

Jon Jansen played 13 snaps against Arizona to show the Washington Redskins’ coaching staff he still can play right tackle in the NFL.

Filling for the injured Stephon Heyer, Jansen - who lost his job at the end of the preseason - saw his first offensive action of the season and practiced with the starters Wednesday at Redskin Park as Heyer watched with a sprained shoulder.

Jansen said he entered the game with a show-them attitude.

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t in the back of my mind,” he said. “I wanted to prove to everybody that has seen me play football for the past 10 years that I’m not old, I’m not washed up, I can still play, and I can still play with the best of them. … I felt really confident and really good about how it went. I had a bunch of different situations and felt comfortable out there.”

Said coach Jim Zorn: “He did fine. We were very pleased with how he responded.”

Before coaches benched him days before the regular-season opener at the New York Giants, Jansen had started each of his 112 career games. He only played special teams in the first two games.

“It’s been frustrating,” he said. “It’s something I didn’t understand and don’t understand, but everybody goes through it at some point of their career, and you have to deal with it as it comes.”

Heyer has protected well against the pass, but the Redskins have all but ignored running to the right side. He said the shoulder felt worse Wednesday than after the game.

“I’m going to push myself and see how I can do and try to show them as much as I can,” Heyer said. “I really can’t tell you right now [if he can play] until I go out there and practice and see where I’m at.”

Said Zorn: “He’s coming along. He was out there getting those mental reps, but we want to see him physically practice.”

If Jansen gets the start, he hopes to show Zorn and offensive line coach Joe Bugel that he merits the full-time job.

“I’m excited to go out and play,” he said. “I want to go out there and have some fun again. That’s what football is for me. … [Watching] has definitely been a new experience for me, one that I’m not enjoying.”

Sellers sits

Fullback Mike Sellers missed practice Wednesday because of a quadriceps strain. Sellers was kicked in the leg against Arizona in Week 3.

Several players were limited, including running back Clinton Portis (neck), receiver Malcolm Kelly (ankle) and defensive end Jason Taylor.

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