Tribune News Services
ASHBURN, Va. -- It could be a smoke screen or just a cautious assessment of his quarterback's health, but Mike Shanahan says he's not certain that Donovan McNabb will be available for the Redskins' season opener against the Cowboys.
"I really don't know for sure," Shanahan said Sunday. "That's why it's day by day. We'll see how it goes."
McNabb hasn't practiced since spraining his left ankle in the second preseason game against Baltimore. He sat out Friday's game against the New York Jets and watched Sunday's practice with a black sleeve on his left leg.
ASHBURN, Va. -- It could be a smoke screen or just a cautious assessment of his quarterback's health, but Mike Shanahan says he's not certain that Donovan McNabb will be available for the Redskins' season opener against the Cowboys.
"I really don't know for sure," Shanahan said Sunday. "That's why it's day by day. We'll see how it goes."
McNabb hasn't practiced since spraining his left ankle in the second preseason game against Baltimore. He sat out Friday's game against the New York Jets and watched Sunday's practice with a black sleeve on his left leg.
Shanahan said the leg is too sore for McNabb to play this week against the Arizona Cardinals, but McNabb likely wouldn't have played in that game anyway because the coach prefers to rest his starter in the final exhibition to avoid injury.
However, backup quarterback Rex Grossman said he won't play this week either, perhaps as an insurance policy to make sure at least one of the top two quarterbacks on the roster is ready to go against the Cowboys on Sept. 12.
That leaves bubble quarterbacks John Beck and Richard Bartel taking the snaps Thursday at Arizona.
However, backup quarterback Rex Grossman said he won't play this week either, perhaps as an insurance policy to make sure at least one of the top two quarterbacks on the roster is ready to go against the Cowboys on Sept. 12.
That leaves bubble quarterbacks John Beck and Richard Bartel taking the snaps Thursday at Arizona.
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