By Tarik El-Bashir
CSNwashington.com
Trent Williams and Pierre Garçon aren’t the only Redskins whose availability for Sunday’s game in Tampa remained unclear Friday.
Brandon Meriweather is listed as probable, but the strong safety stopped short of declaring himself ready to make his season debut. He sprained two ligaments in his right knee during the six days before the season opener in New Orleans.
“I would be ecstatic,” Meriweather said Friday. “I can bring a lot. I’m good at disguising [blitzes]. I’m patient. I can do all the little things.”
Meriweather’s experience could prove beneficial to a secondary that’s struggling, having yielded 300 or more passing yards in each of the past two games.
“He can do a lot of things,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “He’s an ex-corner coming out of college. He’s got football intelligence. He can take something from the classroom to the field. He brings energy to the backend. We’ve missed him.”
Meantime, cornerback Cedric Griffin (hamstring) has been ruled out against the Bucs, meaning rookie Richard Crawford will be the Redskins’ third cornerback.
Running back Evan Royster (knee) is probable and wide receiver Brandon Banks (hip) is questionable. Banks said hurt himself in practice.
If Banks misses the first game of his career, Niles Paul and Aldrick Robinson are listed as backup kick returners. Santana Moss and Richard Crawford, meantime, are the backup punt returners.
"I want to play," Banks said. "Hopefully I can play."
What a great opportunity this would be to cut banks or put him on IR. What a waste of a roster position.
Posted by: StudleyDudley13 | Friday, September 28, 2012 at 04:14 PM