1. Running back Roy Helu likely won’t play Saturday at Chicago because of Achilles tendinitis in his left foot, paving the way for more playing time for rookie back Alfred Morris.
Evan Royster will play, but coach Mike Shanahan said Morris likely will get the bulk of the carries.
“We know what Royster can do,” Shanahan said. “You want to evaluate some of these guys and see what they can do in live situations.”
Shanahan said he still holds out hope that Tim Hightower can return for the third preseason game vs. Indianapolis, but said it’s more likely he’ll be back for the preseason finale.
2. Shanahan isn’t certain on the status for left tackle Trent Williams (bruised left foot), left guard Maurice Hurt (knee) and right guard Chris Chester (sprained left ankle). All three practiced for most of the full-team work.
“Today it took a little more time before it started bothering me,” Williams said. “That’s a good sign.”
But whether or not they’ll play vs. Chicago is uncertain. Williams and Chester both said they would play Saturday, but their opinion matters less than the coach’s.
“They’ll have to improve by tomorrow,” Shanahan said. “They got good reps, but they’re by no means 100 percent.”
3. Linebacker Markus White exited practice early because of a problem with his back/ribs. Shanahan said “he should be OK.”
4. Receiver Leonard Hankerson said he was dehydrated Tuesday, which lead to his needing to be carted to the locker room during practice. But Hankerson said he’s fully hydrated today.
5. Shanahan said the Redskins have three or four potential sites that they’re considering for training camp in Richmond next summer.
6. Linebacker Rob Jackson said he added eight pounds from the end of last season and said he’s playing with more power this season. Jackson showed some of that new strength vs. the Bills when he drove a tackle back and reached around either side of the tackle with his arms and got his hands on the ballcarrier. He watched the play “a few times.” But that play was an indication, he said, of more strength.
“I’ve got more weight behind my punch,” he said.
7. Tackle Jordan Black said any initial concerns that he wasn’t big enough because of the weight he lost from a year ago dissipated quickly.
“My concern was being able to hunker down on a bull rush,” he said, “having a defensive end rush full speed at you. I was worried I might not be heavy enough to slow him down. But it goes back to leverage wins, so regardless of what I weight if I have leverage I’ll be all right.”
8. Niles Paul learns (another lesson) at tight end.