Washington Redskins: Heavy Storms Damage Team’s Training Camp Goal Posts
Training camp in the NFL, unfortunately for both real and fantasy football teams alike, is a time of injury and loss. Whether in routine drills or meaningless preseason games, the injury bug isn’t limited to just stars, as rookies and role players all find themselves on everything from the Physically unable to perform list (also known as the dog list, PUP) to the injured reserve.
Joining Houston’s J.J. Watt, Washington’s Junior Galette, and Green Bay’s Jordy Nelson on the injury list is the Washington Redskins’ goal post.
A look at some of the damage to the Bon Secours Washington #Redskins Training Center caused by last night's storm. pic.twitter.com/Kw36MMjv6i
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 27, 2016
To be exact, it was a combination of strong winds and lightning that caused the left part of that goal post to bend and go inwards. What a start to the first day of training camp, though the first practice isn’t until Thursday, where the team will undergo both a walkthrough and a full workout.
The damage to the goal post is just the continuation of a rough week for the Redskins as Galette sustained a season-ending right Achilles injury that will heavily damage the team’s defense. In a division that features two top 10 quarterbacks in Eli Manning and Tony Romo, former Ohio State star Ezekiel Elliot, and a boatload of dangerous wide receivers, Washington was going to benefit greatly from the return of the former Saints captain, who also missed last season with a tear of the left Achilles.
In an interview with the Redskins’ official team site, head coach Jay Gruden still expressed optimism about what was next for the defending division champions.
“You’ve got to get these guys mentally prepared and the strength staff, and the players individually, have to get themselves physically ready to go. Then we have to make the tough decisions with the 53-man roster, we have to find out the guys who can play. You never want to cut good players, you don’t want to cut anybody, but you have to do it and you want to make sure those decisions are right….It’s important to do that so we make the right decisions.”
Fresh off their first postseason appearance since 2012, the Redskins will look to prove that the 2015 season was not a fluke and that they’re not just a team taking advantage of key injuries to the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Washington, led by franchise-tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins, hopes to become the first repeat winner of the NFC East since the Philadelphia Eagles won four straight from 2001-04.
Gruden, in a press conference at the beginning of camp, discussed the former Michigan State quarterback who now seems cemented as the team’s long-term option at a position that’s lacked consistency since the days of Joe Theismann.
“I’m sure there was some part of him looking over his shoulder after every incompletion and seeing if the backup quarterback is warming up. There’s a fear of that. I played the position – you never want that. You’re stressing and you’re worrying so much about every play, but once you become more confident, more comfortable that this is your team, you go out there and let loose and have fun and are a great leader and do what he can do. And he is a very skilled quarterback throwing the football.”
Washington opens their season on September 12 with a Monday Night Football game on ESPN against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kirk Cousins and friends will battle former teammate Robert Griffin III and the Cleveland Browns on October 2 in a home game at FedEx Field. The Redskins will play three nationally televised games this season, including a December 19 matchup with the defending NFC Championship Carolina Panthers.
Hopefully, all of those games will feature working, non-bent goal posts.
[Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images]
