The Redskins may once again have a different inside linebacker to pair with Zach Brown in the starting lineup, as Martrell Spaight is among those questionable for Thursday's game.
This week's injury report is brought to you by Inova, the Official Health System of the Washington Redskins.
On a short week, the Washington Redskins head into Thursday night's game against the New York Giants with tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring), center Chase Roullier (hand), defensive lineman Terrell McClain (toe) and safety Montae Nicholson (concussion) out for the contest.
Additionally, linebackers Ryan Anderson (knee), Martrell Spaight (ankle) and Zach Brown (Achilles), defensive linemen Matt Ioannidis (hand/thigh) and Anthony Lanier II (knee), tackles Ty Nsekhe (core muscle), Morgan Moses (eye/ankles) and Trent Williams (knee), guard Brandon Scherff (knee), running back Samaje Perine (finger) and wide receiver Ryan Grant (calf) are questionable for the game.
Thursday's game marks the fourth straight game that Reed has missed as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of the Redskins' Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
As he remains sidelined, the Redskins have mostly relied on Vernon Davis at the tight end position with both Niles Paul and Jeremy Sprinkle contributing as well.
Over the three games that Reed has already missed, Davis has filled in to record 16 receptions for 215 yards. Against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, Paul tallied two receptions for 11 yards along with a converted fake punt rush and Sprinkle caught a seven-yard touchdown pass on his first career NFL reception.
Roullier's absence comes in a tough spot for Washington's offense as he was filling in for the injured Spencer Long at the center position. Long, however, was one of four Redskins placed on Injured Reserve this week.
With Roullier out, the Redskins will ask Tony Bergstrom to make his first start of the season. Signed by the Redskins in October, Bergstrom has started four games in his career but none since the 2015 season with the Oakland Raiders.
McClain has also been ruled out for the first time this season after suffering a toe injury against the Saints. Without McClain, the Redskins may seek more production out of Lanier if he is active on Thursday evening.
A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants.
Against the Saints, Lanier logged his first career sack while appearing on 30 defensive snaps.
"He is getting better and better," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden. "He's just got to keep playing. He's very young when it comes to that position. Learning new techniques, it's not just a one gap, get up the field and go. There are a lot of different things he has to do and learn with leverage and fighting off double teams and all that. He's getting better and better at it.
"Still a long way to go, but the good thing is he is getting stronger every day in here and he is listening to Coach [Jim] Tomsula and you can see the progress steady."
The Redskins also could have either A.J. Francis or Caraun Reid -- or even both depending on the seven inactives -- available to play against the Giants as the fifth and sixth defensive linemen.
Spaight, meanwhile, has been dealing with an ankle injury. If Spaight can't play, the Redskins will call on either Josh Harvey-Clemons or Zach Vigil to start opposite of Zach Brown for the first time this season.
It would also be the fourth player this year to be in the starting lineup alongside Brown, joining Spaight along with Will Compton and Mason Foster, both of whom are on Injured Reserve.
Also on the defensive side of the football, the Redskins will once again have Nicholson inactive for the second time in four weeks.
While he is out against New York, Gruden is excited to see Nicholson back on the field once he is cleared.
"He's coming along great," Gruden said of the 2017 fourth-round pick. "He can run. He can hit. It's just, he's had issues with his AC joints on both shoulders and now the concussion. So, it's unfortunate because we love him as a prospect without a doubt. I think he's going to be an excellent safety. We just got to try to keep him out of the hot tub and obviously this concussion thing is a concern, so just got to get him well. That's number one. Let's get him well and then get him back on the field when he is well and we'll go from there."
In the meantime, the Redskins will utlize both DeAngelo Hall and Deshazor Everett at safety opposite D.J. Swearinger.
