Tim Hightower is expected to suit up and play against the Colts on Saturday, barring a setback, Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday.
Evan Royster, meantime, will be sidelined with a knee injury, the coach added.
Hightower, who missed the final 11 games last season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, returned to full practice on Wednesday and emerged from Thursday’s unscathed.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Hightower said. “I’m sure it will hit me Saturday when I get on that field. I’ve been working for this for a long time, so it’s a huge step.”
Said Shanahan: “If there’s no setback, he’ll play on Saturday. I’ll get a feel before the game exactly how exactly how he’s feeling, and determine at that time.
Hightower said he’s sufficiently recovered and won’t worry about the surgically repaired knee. He’ll be more focused on keeping his emotions in check.
“This isn’t a preseason game for me,” he said. “I’m approaching it as this is a big a game as I’ll have. It’s special.”
Shanahan said Hightower won’t start, which means rookie Alfred Morris will get the nod. The team’s other running back, Roy Helu Jr., is sidelined with soreness in both Achilles’ tendons.
As for Royster, the second-year running back said he doesn’t know how he got hurt. But he did say that the MRI taken on his swollen right knee did not reveal any structural damage.
“I woke up and was like, ‘What’s going on?’” Royster said. “I have no idea that it even happened. It’s nothing serious. It’s going to be a couple of days.”
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