Redskins' Smith sidelined again

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By David Elfin

After missing Weeks 5 and 6 of this season with a groin injury, Washington Redskins punter Hunter Smith aggravated the injury in his first game back and won't punt Sunday at Atlanta.

"In the third quarter, I went out for a punt and felt it kind of tweak itself again," Smith said of his appearance against Philadelphia on Oct. 26. "It's something we've yet to be able to get right."

Smith - who punted for the Indianapolis Colts for a decade without missing a game - rehabbed during the bye week but was unable to punt in practice Wednesday. That forced the Redskins to bring in former Dallas punter Sam Paulescu and ex-Tennessee punter Reggie Hodges on Thursday.

Coach Jim Zorn said the Redskins will sign Paulescu on Friday, meaning they will be forced to cut a player - likely defensive end Renaldo Wynn or running back Quinton Ganther.

"It's very frustrating," Zorn said. "With the rest and treatment, we had felt... that he's going to be getting better. It hasn't responded well. It's getting to that point where I've got to make a decision [about putting Hunter on injured reserve], and yet I still want to give him another week and see if things get strong."

Paulescu averaged a combined 42.0 yards on five punts for Denver in 2007 and 53 for Dallas last season.

Horton injures knee

Zorn said Chris Horton, who splits time with Reed Doughty at strong safety, injured a knee Thursday and couldn't finish practice.

"I think he just tweaked it," Zorn said. "We're just taking precautions. I hope he's going to be fine. I hope he'll practice tomorrow."

After spraining his right knee against the Eagles, tackle Stephon Heyer practiced fully for the second time; he is expected to start Sunday.