Did anybody know that Jon Jansen was hurt also.
Commanders' Taylor injured in loss
Recently acquired defensive end sprains knee in preseason game
David Elfin (Contact)
Sunday, August 24, 2008
CHARLOTTE — Washington's embarrassing 47-3 loss to the
Carolina Panthers on Saturday night - the second-worst in the franchise's last 48 preseasons - didn't matter.
What did was
defensive end Jason Taylor spraining his right knee.
Coach Jim Zorn feared the worst when Taylor lay face down on the field and when the medical staff rolled the defensive end over and pulled down his sock, but he was greatly relieved when the initial X-rays were negative. However, Taylor will have an MRI on Sunday to firm up the extent of the damage.
Starting offensive
tackle Jon Jansen also was injured Saturday, spraining his right foot. He will have his foot examined.
"I think we came out of it OK," Zorn said, putting the best face on the situation.
Taylor, acquired from the Miami Dolphins on July 20, has played in 130 consecutive games. The
Commanders traded for him the day after Phillip Daniels suffered a season-ending torn ACL on the first day of training camp.
Rookie free agent cornerback Matterral Richardson strained his groin in the second half, hurting his chances of making the roster.
The Commanders open the season Sept. 4 at the New York Giants and also visit their other
NFC East rivals - the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles - during the following 31 days.
Even if Taylor is sidelined just six weeks, he'll miss a critical part of the season. Career backup Demetric Evans, who will start as long as Taylor's out, said that he's ready if given his first extensive shot at starting.
Stephon Heyer, who filled in capably down the stretch as a rookie in 2007 when Jansen was sidelined with a broken right leg and ankle, will take over at right tackle again. Heyer only got in for a couple of plays on Saturday after missing the previous two weeks with a mild sprained knee.