Ailing Portis could sit out against Baltimore

Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn said he hasn't ruled out resting Clinton Portis on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

Portis, who led the NFL in rushing before being held to 22 yards on 11 carries in Sunday's 23-7 loss to the New York Giants, added a jammed neck to the oblique muscle he pulled the week before at Seattle and the left knee he sprained Nov. 3 against Pittsburgh.

Asked Monday whether Portis would be able to survive Washington's final four games, Zorn said, "We want him to do more than just survive. Either we have to rest him ... Clinton has a real stiff neck. We gotta try to get him out there ... and go, I'm hoping."

While Portis came up huge with 143 yards on 29 carries at Seattle, the Ravens' third-ranked run defense is much more akin to that of the Giants (fifth) than that of the Seahawks (22nd). Ladell Betts, who filled in admirably when Portis missed the second half of 2006, will start if Portis can't go.

If the slumping Redskins (7-5) can afford one more loss and still make the playoffs, it's this one. Two of their final three games are more critical NFC contests; the other is against 1-10-1 Cincinnati.

(washigtontimes.com)