ASHBURN, Va. – This was not the season Jason Hatcher or the Redskins envisioned. But once Hatcher hurt his knee earlier this season, he knew it would be a difficult one.
Sure enough, Hatcher has been inactive the last two games and likely will be again Sunday against Dallas. Hatcher is listed as doubtful because of an injury to his right knee. Before training camp, Hatcher underwent surgery on his left knee.
“It’s a very frustrating deal not to play against your former teammates,” said Hatcher, who spent eight seasons in Dallas. “I just want to play, I really don’t care what game it is. I want to be out on the field, but at the same time I have to do the best thing for me.”
The Redskins signed Hatcher to a four-year with $10.5-million guaranteed in the offseason, hoping he would solve the interior pass rush problems. He has recorded 5.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits/pressures – both are second on the team to linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.
“It’s frustrating, man, but you have those years,” Hatcher said. “It happens. I’ve been through this before, it’s just one of those things you get a little dinged early in the season and you ain’t able to rest it and stuff starts to pile up from then on. It’s one of those things I grind through, just a learning process. I’m looking forward to getting ready for next year and being as healthy as I can and staying that way. Once I get my regimen right, like I had it in Dallas, I’ll be good.
“I know what kind of player I am when I’m healthy and I know how I look when I’m healthy. I’m excited to get healthy and come back.”
At the midway point of the season, coach Jay Gruden said while Hatcher was playing well he was not playing at the elite level they needed.
“Early on when we had everybody healthy, he was doing a good job,” Gruden said. “[But] for anybody to say we were completely pleased with coaching performances or player performances would be a little overexaggerated. But Hatcher came in here, he’s a great guy who works hard, and I appreciate what he brought to this team, not only from the football player standpoint but from a person standpoint. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Meanwhile, linebacker Keenan Robinson (knee), left tackle Trent Williams (shoulder), nose tackle Chris Baker (toe/elbow) and linebacker Gabe Miller (ankle) were limited and will be questionable for Sunday. Defensive end Stephen Bowen (illness) missed practice.
