Redskins Cut Shaun Alexander

The Washington Redskins have released running back Shaun Alexander after four games with the team.  The 31 year old former MVP had provided insurance while injuries prevented Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts from playing.

Portis and Betts continue to battle through injuries, but the Redskins apparently felt they needed Alexander’s roster spot to help with depth on the D-line after defensive end Andre Carter suffered a foot injury against the Seattle Seahawks this past week.  Portis carried the ball 29 times for 143 yards and looked to be fine during Sundays game.  But word out of Redskins camp is that Portis suffered a strained ribcage muscle on Sunday.

Portis Likely Out This Weekend Against Dallas

Clinton Portis’ sprained knee showed no improvement Thursday, and the Washington Redskins running back appears unlikely to play in Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL’s second-leading rusher left Redskins Park during practice, walking gingerly in a gray hooded sweatshirt and burgundy sweatpants to his Maserati.

Portis sprained his left knee in the 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers before last week’s bye.

With Portis hurt, Ladell Betts appears set to start Sunday. Betts has missed the last three games with a sprained knee, but he was on the field in steady rain for Thursday’s practice.  Shaun Alexander would start if both Portis and Betts are unable to play.

Redskins Sign Shaun Alexander

The ‘Skins signed Shaun Alexander to a one-year deal on Tuesday to fill in for Ladell Betts as he recovers from a knee injury. Betts is expected to miss around three weeks with the injury.  Alexander will back up starting RB Clinton Portis during Betts’ recovery.

Alexander was released by the Seahawks in the offseason and could not seem to latch onto an NFL team at all.  He had visited the Saints, Bengals and Lions before finally landing a job in Washington. This however bodes well for Alexander, as he worked with Redskins head coach Jim Zorn and running backs coach Stump Mitchell in Seattle.

Expect nothing great out of this washed up old vet.