Leonard Hankerson looks good, but is a 'long shot' for Monday

Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson is getting close to returning to the lineup, but he remains a “long shot” to play Monday night in Dallas, Coach Jay Gruden said.

“We have not made that decision yet,” Gruden said, referring to Hankerson’s timeline. “We’ve got a logjam at wide receiver.”

Hankerson started the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list while he continued to rehabbed from major knee surgery. The 25-year-old returned to practice on Oct. 15, opening a three week window for the Redskins to decide whether to activate him, place him on season-ending injured reserve or release him.

Based on Gruden’s comments, the Redskins intend to eventually activate Hankerson and cut another player to make room for him on the 53-man roster. The only question is when.

The Redskins currently have six wide receivers on the roster—Pierre Garçon, DeSean Jackson, Andre Roberts, Ryan Grant, Santana Moss and Aldrick Robinson. Gruden has typically had five receivers dress on game day, leaving either Moss or Robinson as the odd man out. When Hankerson returns, someone will have to go.

“Everybody knows with Santana and Aldrick, we’ve kind of been flip flopping them, who’s active, who’s not active,” Gruden said. “Both of them are very good wideouts, and then you throw Leonard into the mix.”

He added: “At this time, we haven’t made a decision as far as getting him [active] for this week. [But] it’ll be a long shot this week.”

Gruden has said in the past that he wants to give Hankerson time to get comfortable in the offense. And, indeed, after sitting out the preseason and the first seven games, Hankerson needs some practice reps.

But he already has something no other receiver on the roster possesses: height. At 6-2, he’s two-inches taller than any other player at his position.


(csnwashington.com)