Lorenzo Alexander had a big hit on special teams and also forced a fumble on defense during the Redskins' 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos last week. The Redskins face the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday, and special teams faces a Texas-sized challenge. Dallas has the league's fourth-ranked offense, Tony Romo is a big-play quarterback and the team has many playmakers in the passing and running games. So the Redskins have to perform well on kickoff and punt coverage to make things as difficult as possible for the Cowboys. "Our coverage game has to be on the top of our list," Alexander said. "You don't want those guys getting great field position. You want to keep inside the 20 as much as possible, but it's not easy."
In two games as the Redskins' starting tight end, Fred Davis has six catches for 76 yards. He also had eight receptions - including his first career touchdown - and 78 yards during the Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in which Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley was injured. Davis's blocking has improved and that's an encouraging development for the Redskins, who have used more two-tight-end formations in the running game since Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels and right guard Randy Thomas suffered season-ending injuries. Davis is coming along nicely, Coach Jim Zorn said. "Every week, actually, I should say, every day, he just continues to improve, and it started with that bye week the time that he spent out there working," Zorn said. "But then each week, I think after the first game, he really saw ... the speed, how tough it was going to be,
Coach Jim Zorn praised cornerback Carlos Rogers for responding well in practice this week after having been benched early in the Week 10 victory over the Denver Broncos, but Zorn would not commit to Rogers starting opposite top cornerback DeAngelo Hall on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys at the new Cowboys Stadium. "He could" start, Zorn said. "But right now, we've got a little mix going and we like what we're seeing out there. I like what I'm seeing in Carlos and how he's responding to the situation. "Sometimes it happens where you've just got to bide your time and wait for your next opportunity. I know with Carlos it'll come. And I think he knows it'll come as well." Secondary coach Jerry Gray has been similarly impressed with Rogers's approach this week. "He's responded great. He understands what he has to do and it's nothing new," Gray said. "The
Benched after briefly starting at right guard earlier in the season, second-year guard Chad Rinehart remained focused and continued to work hard, and offensive line coach Joe Bugel noticed. Bugel convinced Coach Jim Zorn that Rinehart should be given another opportunity to work with the first team, and the former third-round draft pick responded well during the Week 10 victory over the Denver Broncos at FedEx Field. Rinehart is scheduled to make his first career start (fourth overall) Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys at the new Cowboys Stadium, and he has earned it, Bugel said. "I felt during that time where he wasn't a starter, watching him on the scout team servicing the defense, he was doing a heck of a job," Bugel said. "He was staying extra practice, getting in some work, and it came to the time where the kid deserved a chance. You know what I mean?
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (ankle) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys at the new Cowboys Stadium, Coach Jim Zorn said today after practice at Redskins Park. "Albert was on the treadmill today working," Zorn said. "It'll be a game-time decision whether he can go or not. I'm going to lean more toward having him up [active], seeing what he can do. "I'm an optimistic person and I'm definitely going to wish that for myself with Albert because we'd love to have him on the field. But it will be a game-time situation."
