THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 12, 1996 TAG: 9608120134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Redskins report
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD. LENGTH: 67 lines
Shar Pourdanesh became a starter at left offensive tackle Sunday, as the Washington Redskins shuffled their line to combat injuries to guards Bob Dahl and Brian Thure.
Joe Patton, who started at left tackle last season but is equally suited to guard, moved to right guard and will remain there until Dahl returns from minor knee surgery. That should be the final preseason game against New England. Coach Norv Turner refused to say that Patton would return to left tackle once Dahl returns, and there is talk here that he may be too valuable as a swing man on a team that values versatility.
``If we were playing a regular-season game this week, this is what we'd do,'' Turner said. ``We're going to play our starters three quarters this week, so that's close enough. We'll evaluate how Shar plays this football game and go from there.''
Pourdanesh, the first Iranian-born player in NFL history, was singled out by general manager Charley Casserly for his play last Friday against Detroit. Casserly said he was the only player on the line to stand out.
Thure has a pinched nerve in his neck. He will see a neurologist today and is out an indefinite time.
MEDICAL REPORT: Turner finally admitted that if the regular season were starting next week, he'd be concerned about the laundry list of injuries his team has incurred. But he figures with a week or two for most of them to heal before the Sept. 1 opener against Philadelphia, he's not sweating it.
Here it is, by unit:
Offense: In addition to Dahl and Thure, receiver Michael Westbrook has a mildly sprained right knee. He'll be re-evaluated Tuesday. ... Receiver Leslie Shepherd now has a soft cast on his right wrist, for what trainer Bubba Tyer calls ``turf thumb.'' He jammed his hand at the Silverdome Friday night and is day to day. ... Tight end James Jenkins was admitted to the hospital Saturday with migraine headaches. He'll be released today. ... Receiver Tydus Winans returned to practice Sunday after missing three weeks with a sprained shoulder. ... Kicker Scott Blanton twisted his left (plant) foot when he stepped on a sprinkler head. He left practice early, but didn't receive treatment.
Defense: Tackle Leonard Renfro will miss at least two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. ... End Sterling Palmer twisted his right foot Friday and still has a lot of swelling. He'll likely miss a few days. ... Tackle William Gaines has a shoulder contusion and will be held out of contact work the next few days. ... Safety Stanley Richard has a mild shoulder sprain and should return today or Tuesday. ... End Rich Owens ran on his sprained ankle Sunday, but Tyer is being cautious about getting him back on the field. ... Safety Darryl Pounds, who sat out the Lions game with a stiff back, should practice today or Tuesday.
KEEPING SCORE: The final week of practices in the Heath vs. Gus quarterback derby began Sunday afternoon. Shuler played with the first unit - Gus will do that today - and completed 10 of 16 passes with an interception. Frerotte completed 10 of 14 with no interceptions.
Turner will name a starter for Friday night's game against Cincinnati by Wednesday, though he encouraged the media not to read anything into his choice.
``Someone's got to start,'' he joked. ``The rules say so.''
Although Casserly said he was certain he'd be asked for his opinion on who should start, clearly, this is a decision Turner will make.
``We've communicated as an organization on this all the way through,'' Turner said, ``but, ultimately, someone has to decide and that has to be the coach. What complicates things is the way both have played. I think whoever we pick, when we make that decision no one's going to say it was the wrong decision.'' by CNB