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News & Notes: Redskins Want Consistency From Brooks

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The Redskins are languishing at the bottom of league standings in punting, and coaches are seeking more consistency from rookie punter Durant Brooks.

In Sunday's 23-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Brooks had four punts for a 34.5 yard average.

His first attempt was a 37 yarder that did not have good hang time, allowing the Eagles' DeSean Jackson to return 68 yards for a touchdown.

"Our punter has to improve his height, hang time and distance, because it's exposed right out there," Jim Zorn said on Monday. "There's not a lot we can say except, 'Yep he has to punt better.' We're getting the coverage we want, except they got one on us, so we have to be better there, too."

Asked how much the Redskins could stay with a struggling punter, Zorn pointed to Brooks' performance in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Brooks had four punts for a 46.3-yard average, including a 60-yarder, in the Redskins' 26-24 win over the Cowboys.

"He was an outstanding punter a week ago," Zorn said. "I don't know if [inconsistency] is something we're going to live with as he continues to improve and bring his game up.

"We're not totally displeased with him either because he had an outstanding game the week before against Dallas.

"I'm not in a hurry to say, 'He's done.' I'm not going to do that to him, or to us."

Brooks was the Redskins' sixth-round draft pick last April. He beat out veteran Derrick Frost in a preseason punting competition. Frost is now with the Green Bay Packers.

-- AT RIGHT TACKLE

Since replacing an injured Stephon Heyer in Week 4, Jon Jansen has provided a solid push along the right side of the offensive line.

The Redskins compiled 161 rushing yards at Dallas and 203 rushing yards at Philadelphia.


On Monday, Jim Zorn backed away from questions asking if Jansen could take back the starting job from Heyer. Prior to Week 1, Jansen was benched in favor of Heyer.

Heyer sat out the Eagles game and most of the Cowboys game due to a shoulder injury. His status for practice this week is uncertain.

"Jon has filled that position very well right now," Zorn said. "I just have to see what is going on with Stephon."

Added Zorn: "Jon wasn't punished [when the team benched him]. We just felt like Stephon was the guy who give us more solid protection in the passing game. I still think that."

Jansen, or course, was diplomatic.

"It's up to the coaches to make the decision [as to who starts]," he said. "I've learned the hard way not to make that call. But I'm going to take every opportunity that I can to go out and prove that I should be the guy."

-- TAYLOR UPDATE

Jason Taylor is expected to increase his workload this week as he returns from a calf injury suffered in Week 3.

It's still uncertain if Taylor will be available to practice on Wednesday. He participated in light jogging last week, but otherwise watched practice from the sidelines.

"He will be trying to rev it up, I know that," Jim Zorn said. "It'll be based on how his calf muscle responds this week. Certainly he wants to give it a go."

Zorn said he was "hopeful" that Shawn Springs, who also missed the Eagles game due to a calf injury, would be able to return to practice this week.

-- WASHINGTON RESTS

After stretching his injured hamstring at pre-game on Sunday, Marcus Washington agreed with athletic trainers that he should sit out the Eagles game.

"You want to play through it, but at the same time you could have a setback if you don't let it rest," Washington said. "Just talking with trainers, they felt like I should rest it."

It was the second game that Washington has missed this season due to the injury.

His status for practice this week will be determined on Wednesday.

-- GRIFFIN'S STATUS

Cornelius Griffin's MRI on Monday revealed he suffered a sprained shoulder in the Eagles game.

His status for practice this week is uncertain.

"We have to work with him this week and try to get him ready so he can play against the Rams," Jim Zorn said.

Griffin has not missed a game since Week 7 of the 2006 season.

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