ASHBURN — Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who was initially expected to miss at least a month after spraining the MCL in his right knee on the second day of training camp, participated in seven-on-seven work on Sunday and even rotated in as the top nickelback for one play during team drills.
Breeland slipped and fell while covering Quinton Dunbar, now a cornerback, during one-on-one drills on July 31. He wore a brace on the knee, but had the top half of the brace covered up by his white game pants.
“I mean, I’ve been working,” Breeland said. “I want to be out here, so I’ve got to do what I can do to get out here.”
Breeland, entering his second season, was pressed into a starting role in Week 4 last year after DeAngelo Hall tore his left Achilles’ tendon. He had 66 tackles, intercepted two passes and forced two fumbles, joining David Amerson as the Redskins’ starting cornerbacks.
With Hall back and Chris Culliver joining the team in March, Breeland figures to fill a role as the Redskins’ top nickelback.
He was suspended for one game by the NFL on the same day he was injured, meaning that he’ll miss the season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.
“I’ve got ’til Week 2 until I really officially can be back, so we’re not really rushing it,” Breeland said, “but at the same time, we’re still trying to get prepared.”
Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder returned to practice on Sunday, with Jackson working his way back in a limited fashion and Crowder participating in the entire session.
Jackson, who sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on Aug. 6, rotated in to return punts during special teams drills but otherwise sat out the remainder of the afternoon. Crowder, who strained his left hamstring on Aug. 7, went through individual drills on Tuesday but sat out of the preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
Outside linebacker Trent Murphy sat out with an unspecified hip injury, while kicker Kai Forbath had soreness in one of his quadriceps muscles. Reed and defensive end Frank Kearse also sat out — as did inside linebacker Will Compton, who wore shoulder pads but did not participate in team drills.
“I’m day and night better from day one,” said Compton, who has been bothered by osteitis pubis, an inflammation in his pelvic area. “Day one, I couldn’t really walk. It’s pretty painful, but again, it’s going to go away. I’m really close now.”
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