Tight end Jordan Reed has been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Arizona, Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said Friday, following a third consecutive day of practice in which the team’s leading receiver was unable to participate.
Reed, who leads the Redskins with 59 catches, suffered a Grade 3 separation of the AC joint in left shoulder during the second quarter of the Thanksgiving Day loss at Dallas.
Although Reed returned to catch two of the Redskins’ three fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a furious but futile comeback attempt, the magnitude of his injury and the full extent of the pain and lack of mobility became clear in the days afterward.
Gruden said he was hopeful that with another week to rest and recover, Reed might be able to return for the Week 14 NFC East game at Philadelphia on Dec. 11.
Sunday’s game in Glendale, Ariz., will be the third Reed has missed this season. In October, he sat out the Week 6 victory over Philadelphia and the Week 7 loss at Detroit while dealing with the after-effects of his fifth diagnosed concussion.
While Reed’s size and strength (6 feet 2, 246 pounds) make him a difficult mismatch for defenders, the Redskins are better positioned than most NFL teams to compensate for his absence.
Tight end Vernon Davis has shown surprising speed at age 33 and brings a veteran’s savvy to the position. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who adds toughness in the slot, could contribute more than he’s typically called upon to do in the Redskins’ pass-heavy offense. And second-year receiver Jamison Crowder has delivered each time coaches have increased his workload in the offense.
Gruden also ruled out defensive end Anthony Lanier, who suffered a lower leg injury against Dallas.
Listed as questionable are linebacker Terence Garvin (shoulder), defensive end Ricky jean Francoise (knee), left tackle Ty Nsekhe (ankle), right guard Brandon Scherff (ankle), cornerback Bashaud Breeland (ankle), long snapper Nick Sundberg (back) and running back Chris Thompson (illness).
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