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5 Takeaways: Nov. 27 Gruden Presser

Here's five takeaways from Redskins head coach Jay Gruden's Monday, Nov. 27, 2014, press conference after the team's Thanksgiving Day practice in Loudoun County, Va.:


1. The injury report for Sunday's game against the Colts in Indianapolis keeps evolving.

Gruden announced that cornerback E.J. Biggers (concussion), defensive end Jason Hatcher  (knee) and running back Silas Redd (rib) did not practice on Thursday, while defensive lineman Chris Baker (chest), safety Ryan Clark (shoulder/stinger) and tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring) were limited and left tackle Trent Williams (knee), cornerback Bashaud Breeland (back) and defensive lineman Kedric Golston (back) were all full participants.

There were three changes from Wednesday's participation report: Redd – who suffered his rib injury last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers – went from limited to not practicing; Williams – who missed the 49ers game with a sprained right MCL and ankle suffered Week 11 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – went from limited to full participation; and Golston was not listed until Thursday.

2. The Redskins have options at the nickel position if Biggers is unable to play Sunday.

Gruden said there "is some concern" about Biggers' concussion, although he is going through the league's concussion protocol and will be ready when he is "100 percent."

Top images from Washington Redskins' practice on Nov. 27, 2014, at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va.

"He's going to go through the proper measures and if there's any lingering side effects whatsoever, obviously safety first with these players and we'll have to make adjustments and work out some other guys inside in the nickel," Gruden said.

The first-year head coach said safety Trenton Robinson would be among "a couple options" the team could go to in the event Biggers couldn't play on Sunday vs. the Colts.

"We can move people around," Gruden said. "I think we proved last week that we can be pretty flexible with our personnel, so we're working a lot of people in at different spots trying to get used to that."

3. Hatcher hasn't practiced this week, but his knee injury is not believed to be serious.

Gruden said the "goal" is for Hatcher to play Sunday against Andrew Luck and the potent Colts offense, which ranks No. 1 in the league.

"He's just got a little lingering soreness – just from wear and tear, I think, on his body," Gruden said.

Hatcher's soreness is in his right knee, the opposite knee that required arthroscopic surgery in June.

"It's his other knee, but I think he'll be fine," Gruden said. "It's just something he has to deal with as a football player. Some of these injuries this late in the season kind of catch up to you a little bit and they just kind of linger, but I think he'll be fine."

4. The cornerback position shouldn't be a worry on Sunday.

Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett had to get creative last Sunday against the 49ers when the team found it had no cornerbacks left after David Amerson was inactive and Biggers and Tracy Porter had to exit the game with injuries.

At some points, the Redskins had four safeties on the field at one time, as well as rookie cornerback Greg Ducre, who made the first-ever defensive appearance of his career (and recorded an interception on his third snap).

Gruden said he's not worried about that happening again Sunday, because Amerson – who violated a team rule – will play against the Colts, and the team replaced Porter with Chase Minnifield.

"We're OK in-house," Gruden said. "[Greg] Ducre played last week. We have [Chase] Minnifield on our roster, so we've got enough guys. We still have, obviously, [David] Amerson will be back up this week."

5. Williams 'looked good' in his first full practice of the week.

"He was full participation today," Gruden said. "Like I said, we'll get him with the trainer and get him treatment afterwards and we'll see how he's doing tomorrow, but he looked fine today."

Gruden said he didn't expect any more major changes to the offense after announcing Colt McCoy would start at quarterback on Sunday.

"I think we're good," Gruden said. "The big thing is finding out if Jordan Reed can go or not. We're slowly but surely working him back in here and seeing how his hamstring is doing. It gives you a different element, obviously. But other than that, I think it's status quo for the offense."

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