Jay Gruden Presser/Redskins Injury Report

Jay Gruden answered questions from reporters after today’s practice. He gave updates on Redskins injuries heading into this week’s game. Gruden talked about facing a Giants team that is 1-6, and some of their player on offense. Greg Manusky also spoke about defending against Odell Beckham, Jr. and Saquon Barkley on Sunday.

Injury updates:

Paul Richardson Jr.:

Chris Thompson:

"Well, we’re playing it by ear. We’ve game planned as if he’s going to play like we have the last couple weeks but we’ll get a better feel tomorrow for red zone day and Saturday morning. But, we’re hopeful, fingers crossed. But ultimately, it’s going to be up to him and Larry [Head Athletic Trainer Larry Hess].”

Saquon Barkley:

Odell Beckham Jr.:

"He has a great feel for the game. You can tell he’s very aware of his surroundings – man, zone, leverages. He’s just a good route runner. You know teams have rolled up to him quite a bit and doubled him but he still finds a way to get open from time to time. Obviously, when the ball is in the air, that’s where his gift comes into play. He can catch it all kinds of different…he’s like Gumby. He can catch it wherever the ball is outside the framework of his body. He’s unbelievable, so we have to have a plan for him. Those are two dynamic players on offense.”

1-6 Giants:

"It’s the New York Giants and they’re a good football team. We just mentioned two players that are possible Pro Bowl players – Saquon and obviously Odell. Then, they have a quarterback that’s a Hall of Fame quarterback. They’re very talented. Defensively, they’re learning a new system. They’re starting to play well together. They’ve been in some close games, lost some close games. You look at the NFL season and teams that are 1-6 and teams that are 4-2, a play here a play here. We could be 1-6. They could be… you never know. We know how competitive they are. We know how tough it is to play at that stadium. We’ve learned the hard way. Anytime you play in the NFC East on the road, it’s going to be a tough game. You don’t even look at the records.”

Away game vs Giants:

Alex Smith:

"He’s done a great job of that in his career. He has a great feel for that. You know, there are times he’s probably escaped early or maybe should’ve escaped when… that’s always going to be the case playing quarterback. But, he has the intangibles to be a very good pocket awareness quarterback and he can escape. He’s done a good job keeping plays alive and getting out of trouble. You really don’t coach that. The day after when you have the clicker and you freeze it, ‘Oh you could have stepped up here or you could’ve done this.’ It’s easier said than done. So, you kind of just let them [instinctually] take over when the pocket breaks down, let him do his thing. But we just try to talk through the progressions and the reads and what other options he could have had on that particular play and then move on to the next one.”

Moving CB Fabian Moreau outside:

”Moving him? Yeah. Yeah we did in base last week. He played outside corner in base and in sub he played nickel.”

Will that impact where CB Josh Norman lines up:

”I don’t know yet, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s going to be exciting to see, hopefully we’ll have a plan for Odell, but our corners are going to have to strap up and play. We can’t triple him or double him every time. If you start doing that, you are lighting the box for Saquon Barkley so it’s pick your poison. We’re going to have to have a plan, guys are going to have to strap it up and play and compete and we’ll do the best we can.”

Danny Johnson/Greg Stroman:

”No, Stroman is good, Danny is, and they are in good spots where they are. They are both getting good experience and are very promising rookies for us. ‘Stro’ is going to have to step it up a little bit. He’s going to get some more action probably this week if Dunny [Quinton Dunbar] can’t go. The good thing about Stroman is he’s definitely not afraid. He’s going to go out there and compete. He might get beat a couple of times but he’ll come back, strap it up and make some plays. That’s what you love about him.”

Opposing teams challenging Stroman:

”Yeah, he’s been challenged throughout training camp and the preseason and obviously he’s gotten challenged a couple of times, once at New Orleans, twice at New Orleans and once last week. He’s going to continue to get challenged. Quarterbacks aren’t stupid. They are going to go after the young buck and he’s going to have plenty of opportunities to make some plays.”

Greg Manusky

Covering Barkley and Beckham:

“It’s always that pressure between the tight end and the wide receivers and the running backs, I mean it’s never ending. The last couple of weeks, we’ve faced pretty good running backs, quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends. It’s a balance that you’ve got to kind of choose between. Going up against a receiver in number 13 (Odell Beckham Jr.), a good football player and then a good back in 26 (Saquon Barkley) that does a great job of hitting the lane, sidelines, making the guys miss, you can put him up or you can put him down. He’s a good running back, but you’ve got to tie it back and forth and hopefully pick and choose.”

Redskins time of possession:

“I think that’s huge in the National Football League. Time of possession for an offense, it wears down other defenses too. I’ve been in the other form where I was on that defense where the offense wasn’t out there as much and for our offense to lead in time of possession, to have their defense out there a decent amount of time, that’s better for us of course. I’ve been on vice versa, on both sides of it and it’s good that we are keeping the ball, keeping possession of it, and driving it down the field.”

Daron Payne/Jonathan Allen:

“I told you last week that Jonathan Allen is stepping up as a leader. Across the board, you get those guys that have been in that situation. They’ve been in the national championship. It’s not a big forum for them and for this guy to step up from a defensive line standpoint, even Payne, he’s a little bit quiet, but I think as a second-year player, you start to build. Jonathan only had four games last year, I think, and he’s building a repertoire so I’m excited for him.”

Running to the ball/group tackling:

”I always tell them, I could get a drunk off the street to come and run to the ball [Laughter]. That’s the biggest thing I used to say to them every training camp. I mean I could get a guy off the street to run to the ball just for one or two plays. I can even do that, maybe, I don’t know, I’ve got a bad hip [Laughter]. Overall, I think it’s important, even this week facing this running back. I mean this guy; do not assume that he’s down. He’s a good running back, so we’ve got to make sure we chase the ball and make sure we get after it.”