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Commanders Notebook
With Daniels Out, Staff Weighs Options on LineBy Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 21, 2004; Page D06
Defensive end Phillip Daniels is likely to miss two to four weeks because of a left groin strain suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's 20-14 loss to the New York Giants, said Bubba Tyer, the Washington Commanders' director of sports medicine.
Daniels had an MRI exam yesterday that revealed the severity of the groin strain. The ninth-year veteran is scheduled to visit a specialist today.
"I've just got to be smart and realize that the team is winning and November and December is when you go for the playoffs and they need me for the long haul," he said. "They're doing pretty well without me right now and I hope I can get back soon and when I do get back it will help us out even more."
Daniels returned to the field in the second quarter but was in too much pain to stay in the game. He was replaced by Ron Warner, a fourth-year veteran who made the roster after a strong preseason.
Warner, who played one season with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was a good story during training camp. But the Commanders will explore adding a defensive lineman if Daniels is out long term. Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday that his staff was to meet last night to discuss alternatives.
Warner, who turns 29 on Sunday, entered the season with six career NFL games and zero starts. A seventh-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 1998 out of Kansas, he signed with the Commanders in October to provide depth.
Daniels has been a sturdy player during his career, playing in at least 13 games in each of the past six seasons. But an abdominal strain forced Daniels to miss most of training camp, and he didn't make his Commanders debut until the preseason finale. The abdominal strain was on the right side but Daniels believes he may have been compensating for it, resulting in the latest injury.
Hall Is Expected to Play
Place kicker John Hall entered Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring, and suffered a strained left hamstring after his first kickoff. But Hall, who was questionable before Sunday's game, is expected to play Monday against the Dallas Cowboys. The latest hamstring injury occurred after Washington took a 7-0 lead. Kick returner Willie Ponder went 34 yards before Hall pushed him out of bounds.
"I can't ever recall an athlete having both" hamstrings strained, Tyer said.
Keeping Up on Jones
Ray Brown, who normally backs up Randy Thomas at right guard, was a surprise starter Sunday in place of right tackle Kenyatta Jones, who is suffering from bone spurs in his ankle.
The NFL requires teams to report all relevant injuries, and Jones was not on the weekly injury report. Gibbs said that was because Jones was healthy enough to play.
Jones, who was named as Jon Jansen's replacement after the right tackle suffered a season-ending injury, has been playing with bone spurs in his ankle since training camp. The Commanders' trainers discovered the severity of the condition last week, and suggested that assistant coach Joe Bugel reduce Jones's reps.
"It was something I knew I was going to deal with the whole season, so I didn't see fit to come out and say anything to the coaches," Jones said. "I spoke to the trainers about it and I guess they spoke to the coaches about it and the rest is history."
Gibbs said that Bugel hasn't decided whether Brown will start again. . . .
Linebacker LaVar Arrington, who entered Sunday's game with a sprained right knee but is in better health this week, said the best aspect of the loss was the reaction of his teammates in the hours following the game.
"The greatest thing I could have saw yesterday and experienced is guys were genuinely hurt," he said. "We were hurt that we lost that game and I alluded to it last year -- guys were just laughing -- ha, ha, ha -- and all kind of carrying on after a loss. You're not supposed to be happy after you lose.
"We have to hate losing more than we like winning, and as long as we do that I think this team will get better. I know we're going to get better and I'm excited about the upcoming game." . . .
After reviewing film of Sunday's loss, Gibbs said he was pleased with the effort of several defensive players: cornerback Ryan Clark, defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, linebacker Antonio Pierce, safety Sean Taylor and linebacker Marcus Washington.
Staff writer Jason LaCanfora contributed to this report.
With Daniels Out, Staff Weighs Options on LineBy Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 21, 2004; Page D06
Defensive end Phillip Daniels is likely to miss two to four weeks because of a left groin strain suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's 20-14 loss to the New York Giants, said Bubba Tyer, the Washington Commanders' director of sports medicine.
Daniels had an MRI exam yesterday that revealed the severity of the groin strain. The ninth-year veteran is scheduled to visit a specialist today.
"I've just got to be smart and realize that the team is winning and November and December is when you go for the playoffs and they need me for the long haul," he said. "They're doing pretty well without me right now and I hope I can get back soon and when I do get back it will help us out even more."
Daniels returned to the field in the second quarter but was in too much pain to stay in the game. He was replaced by Ron Warner, a fourth-year veteran who made the roster after a strong preseason.
Warner, who played one season with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was a good story during training camp. But the Commanders will explore adding a defensive lineman if Daniels is out long term. Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday that his staff was to meet last night to discuss alternatives.
Warner, who turns 29 on Sunday, entered the season with six career NFL games and zero starts. A seventh-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 1998 out of Kansas, he signed with the Commanders in October to provide depth.
Daniels has been a sturdy player during his career, playing in at least 13 games in each of the past six seasons. But an abdominal strain forced Daniels to miss most of training camp, and he didn't make his Commanders debut until the preseason finale. The abdominal strain was on the right side but Daniels believes he may have been compensating for it, resulting in the latest injury.
Hall Is Expected to Play
Place kicker John Hall entered Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring, and suffered a strained left hamstring after his first kickoff. But Hall, who was questionable before Sunday's game, is expected to play Monday against the Dallas Cowboys. The latest hamstring injury occurred after Washington took a 7-0 lead. Kick returner Willie Ponder went 34 yards before Hall pushed him out of bounds.
"I can't ever recall an athlete having both" hamstrings strained, Tyer said.
Keeping Up on Jones
Ray Brown, who normally backs up Randy Thomas at right guard, was a surprise starter Sunday in place of right tackle Kenyatta Jones, who is suffering from bone spurs in his ankle.
The NFL requires teams to report all relevant injuries, and Jones was not on the weekly injury report. Gibbs said that was because Jones was healthy enough to play.
Jones, who was named as Jon Jansen's replacement after the right tackle suffered a season-ending injury, has been playing with bone spurs in his ankle since training camp. The Commanders' trainers discovered the severity of the condition last week, and suggested that assistant coach Joe Bugel reduce Jones's reps.
"It was something I knew I was going to deal with the whole season, so I didn't see fit to come out and say anything to the coaches," Jones said. "I spoke to the trainers about it and I guess they spoke to the coaches about it and the rest is history."
Gibbs said that Bugel hasn't decided whether Brown will start again. . . .
Linebacker LaVar Arrington, who entered Sunday's game with a sprained right knee but is in better health this week, said the best aspect of the loss was the reaction of his teammates in the hours following the game.
"The greatest thing I could have saw yesterday and experienced is guys were genuinely hurt," he said. "We were hurt that we lost that game and I alluded to it last year -- guys were just laughing -- ha, ha, ha -- and all kind of carrying on after a loss. You're not supposed to be happy after you lose.
"We have to hate losing more than we like winning, and as long as we do that I think this team will get better. I know we're going to get better and I'm excited about the upcoming game." . . .
After reviewing film of Sunday's loss, Gibbs said he was pleased with the effort of several defensive players: cornerback Ryan Clark, defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, linebacker Antonio Pierce, safety Sean Taylor and linebacker Marcus Washington.
Staff writer Jason LaCanfora contributed to this report.