Redskins confirm that Pro Bowl LB Brian Orakpo is done for 2012
Written by Adrian Gregory Glover // September 17, 2012 // NFL, Washington Redskins // No comments
ASHBURN, Va. – If the Redskins thought the week’s worst news was going to involve Josh Morgan and flying footballs they were wrong.
Next to veteran London Fletcher, linebacker Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo is the heart and soul of the Skins defense.
It’s just come to light that he’ll be leading his team from the sidelines as he is out for the remainder of the season after tearing the pectoral muscle near his left shoulder during the team’s loss to the Rams on Sunday.
The injury is of serious concern as Orakpo had surgery on the same shoulder at the end of the 2011-2012 run for a similar reason.
During his talk with the media today Mike Shanahan also confirmed that defensive end Adam Carriker is also out for the year after he tore the quad tendon at the base of his right knee on Sunday.
The team will turn to practice squad defensive end Doug Worthington to step up for depth and Jarvis Jenkins takes over as starter for Carriker. Rob Jackson will assume Orakpo’s spot.
“You have guys like Jarvis Jenkins that now gets his opportunity to start,” Shanahan said. “A year ago, we lost Jarvis and Adam took over and did a great job last year, played at a very high level. Jarvis will get his opportunity, guys like Kedric Golston, Chris Baker. You’ve got a guy like Doug Worthington, who has been on the practice squad and he gets activated.
At the outside linebacker spot you’ve got guys like Rob Jackson and Chris Wilson, who have to step up and play at a very high level, because we all know what ‘Rak has done for our defense and how well he’s played. We’ll get a chance for both of those guys to play at that position, and hopefully play very well.”
Both Carriker and Orakpo will have surgeries that will take place next week and that will require four to five months worth of recovery time.
The lost of two starters at the first two levels of their defense could very well send the Redskins into shootout mode in every game that they play moving forward.
RG3, your mission just got a lotharder.
