RICHMOND, Va., -- The symptoms lingered a long time, though Washington Redskins linebacker Martrell Spaight tried to convince himself -- and others -- that they really didn’t exist. So he went about his way, still trying to practice and play and earn a roster spot. All while hiding a concussion he knew was different than those he had suffered in the past.
This spring, he told the Washington Times that he’d once blacked out the lenses of thick, tinted sunglasses because the light bothered his eyes that much. Eventually, Spaight succumbed to reality and let the Redskins know of his issues and now admits that it took a few months to recover from a concussion suffered last training camp. He was placed on injured reserve.
It also caused him to be depressed.
"It was definitely tough," Spaight said of sitting out.
Now he’s trying to make up for lost time and, so far, succeeding. Thursday, Redskins coach Jay Gruden singled out Spaight when discussing the logjam at inside linebacker.
"Spaight is having one heck of a camp so far. He’s turned a lot of heads," Gruden said.
Indeed, in Thursday’s practice Spaight showed why Gruden had complimented him earlier in the day. He broke up as pass to tight end Jordan Reed">Jordan Reed at the goal line in zone coverage. He shot through the line of scrimmage thanks to a good read and stopped running back Keith Marshall in the backfield. Spaight popped Chris Thompson at the end of one play, prompting the running back to fall down.
This is Spaight’s second summer, but in many ways he remains a rookie. Of course, he will remind other rookies he isn’t one of them, asking Su'a Cravens, for example, to carry his helmet and pads to the locker room Thursday. And in terms of playing, he at least knows the defense.
"The biggest thing is understanding the scheme," he said. "The more you understand it the faster you can play and not think, 'Oh, did I do something wrong? Or am I doing something right?' You can’t coach instincts. I’ve been fortunate to have it, and just go out and attack.
"There are a lot of things I watch on film like, 'Man, last year I don’t make this play.' The game is slowing down for me."
Spaight, a fifth-round pick from Arkansas in 2015, needs to keep impressing the coaches. The Redskins have other young players to choose from at inside linebacker. Will Compton will start at one inside spot with either Perry Riley or Mason Foster next to him. Then there is Terence Garvin, rookie Steven Daniels and Cravens, who the Redskins eventually want to play multiple spots.
Special teams will factor in, but so will all-around ability. That's why Spaight must show he can handle coverage responsibilities, too. He’s focused hard on improving his man-coverage skills.
"You just have to be poised when you go man-to-man on someone," he said. "You line up against Vernon Davis and some guys are like, 'Oh, man, it’s Vernon Davis.' But you just have to be composed and have confidence and understand the scheme and what needs to be done."
One thing he doesn’t want to do is alter his style of play too much after his concussion. But he also doesn’t want to repeat his 2015 season. He blacked out after a hit in a preseason game against Baltimore, then played four days later in the finale against Jacksonville. That’s when he couldn’t hide his symptoms any longer.
With a concussion that severe -- it was his second one -- it was hard to look at a television or computer, and light triggered problems as well. After a month on injured reserve, he finally was able to sit in on meetings.
"Once I got injured, my dad kept telling me I’ll have to change my game," Spaight said. "Still play physical, but be smart in the things you do. It’s hard being an old-school player to not play the game that I normally play. But I’m doing a better job using my hands, and I just go out and play smart. It’s definitely getting better for me."
