Josh Doctson misses a catch against the Dallas Cowboys in week two. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – Unable to recover from a nagging Achilles injury, Redskins first round draft pick Josh Doctson has been placed on the reserve/injured list.
“We saw another specialist – a couple of them now,” explained Redskins head coach Jay Gruden. “I think with all the work that we’ve put in, we thought it was best to immobilize him for a little bit of time and see if that can help. By the time he gets out of the boots, or boot, he’ll need time to see if he’s ready. Hopefully we’ll get him back for the last, maybe two games of the year.”
Being placed on injured reserve is no longer an automatic season-ending designation. Doctson must miss at least six weeks, but under NFL rules, he could return late in the season. NFL rules permit one player on each team to be activated from the IR list.
“It’s disappointing, but I think it’s best for him – that’s the most important thing,” Gruden said. “I think for his state of mind, I think it was important to get this thing fixed and do it the right way. I think based on all of the information that we’ve gathered, we tried to push him along maybe a little bit too hard because we didn’t really feel like – we couldn’t really find anything wrong. But obviously he feels like there’s something wrong in there. Something is bothering him. So let’s get to the bottom of it, get him healthy, and get him ready for the end of the year or next year.”
In two games this season, weeks one and two, Doctson caught two passes for 66 yards. Undrafted rookie receiver Maurice Harris has been promoted from the practice squad to take Doctson’s spot on the active roster.
