The bandage on Jason Taylor’s surgically repaired left calf continues to get smaller and that qualifies as good news for Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn.
Taylor missed two games with the injury and has five tackles since his return. He had no tackles against Cleveland despite playing 48 snaps (not counting penalties), though he batted down two passes.
“I see him continuing to work and get back to where he fits in with our defense and our rotation,” Zorn said. “He’s been pushing trying to get it going.”
Taylor’s agility is still hampered by the injury, which he considers 60 percent healed.
“Being hurt is no fun and everybody in this locker room has dealt with it at some point,” he said. “The great thing is that the team’s winning and it’s given me a little reprieve because I feel I’m not helping a whole lot.
“The past week, I felt good going straight ahead but turning the corner was hard. There were a couple of plays I beat the [offensive] tackle and had a chance to turn the corner and hit the quarterback but couldn’t do it. We all know you can’t play this game in a straight line.”
Doctors told Taylor the injury would be completely healed if he sat out a month but he doesn’t consider that as an option.
“As you’re pounding it, you’re not allowing it to heal,” he said. “I have to deal with it and stay calm about it.”
Campbell practices
As expected, quarterback Jason Campbell’s groin injury didn’t keep him off the practice field Wednesday.
He suffered the injury in the first half last week while attempting a pass but remained in the game.
“He’s full go - 100 percent,” Zorn said.
Eight players didn’t practice: Shawn Springs (calf), Clinton Portis (hip), Fred Smoot (groin), Ladell Betts (knee), Chris Horton (ankle), Pete Kendall (knees), Todd Yoder (leg) and Cornelius Griffin (shoulder).
Betts won’t play against Detroit and Springs isn’t expected to play. The other players should be available.
Setback for Kelly
Zorn said rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly, who practiced Wednesday, is scheduled for an MRI on his knee this week.
“It’s another MRI just to see why it’s swelling and if there is anything floating around in there,” Zorn said. “I think it will give us knowledge and it seems to be a re-occurring issue and eventually we’ll give him a chance to get well and will let us be able to get another guy that can actually participate and be a factor.”
Kelly has been active for two games this year and has one catch.
Davis coming along
Rookie tight end Fred Davis played a season-high 14 snaps (not including penalties) against Cleveland. He played 15 in his first five games.
“Early in the week, I saw there was more stuff in there for me to make a couple plays and make some blocks,” he said.
Davis lost 3 yards on an end-around run and Campbell overthrew him after he got open downfield.
Davis said he feels comfortable with his route-running but continues to work on blocking without holding.
“Fred’s been doing a great job - he’s better than most of the tight ends we play against,” fellow tight end Chris Cooley said. “He’s working his way through the offense and getting the feel of things.”
A backup again
Right tackle Stephon Heyer returned to the scout team after Zorn said Jon Jansen will remain the starter. Heyer suffered a shoulder injury against Arizona in Week 3.
“I’m going with what the coaches want and this is what they want at the time,” Heyer said. “I’ll just take the reps against Andre [Carter] and Jason [Taylor] and use that to get better.”
Said Zorn: “I had the same exact conversation with Heyer as I did with Jon Jansen. There’s always one guy who isn’t happy. Now we have a good swing tackle with Stephon.”
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