If the Shoe Fits

Fitted with an altered pair of cleats to cushion his bruised right heel, Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss practiced yesterday for the first time in two weeks and is listed as probable for tomorrow’s game against Dallas.

Moss participated in full drills after team trainers modified one of his cleats to provide better comfort. They cut out the heel area and inserted a plastic cup to add extra padding, then taped it together. The alterations enabled the team’s top receiver to test his heel while the Redskins (5-4) completed preparations to face the NFC East-leading Cowboys (8-1) in Irving, Tex.

Source: Washington Post

Moss May Miss Game with Heel Injury

The Washington Redskins could be without as many as eight starters in tomorrow’s critical NFC East game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Receiver Santana Moss missed a third straight practice yesterday because of a bruised heel and will be a game-time decision. That’s also the case for defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, who played just two snaps last week against the New York Jets. Griffin said his ailing back still bothered him during yesterday’s practice.

“A lot of stuff has been going on, but what can you do about it?” said Moss, who missed the Detroit game with an ailing groin and then hurt his hamstring at Green Bay. “The heel is something that you need to run on and if it’s not feeling right, you can’t go. I can’t get mad about it. I gotta see how I feel on Sunday and go from there.”

Full Story: Moss and Griffin unsure of Sunday - [Washington Times]

Moss to Face Team that Traded Him Away

The paths of wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Santana Moss again will intersect Sunday when the Washington Redskins play the New York Jets at the Meadowlands.

Coles will welcome the team he played for from 2003 to 2004, while Moss will return to the place he called home from 2001 to 2004.

Moss said he doesn’t pay attention to how Coles is doing.

“It’s what Santana can do to help this team,” Moss said. “Nothing else matters to me. We hung out at times, but … we don’t call each other on a day-to-day basis.”

Full Story: Swapped wideouts reunite Sunday - [Washington Times]

Sleep on It

After nearly succumbing twice to tears in the locker room after a terrible game, Santana Moss did what good pros do. He went home and got over it.

“I had to really sleep on it to understand you ain’t perfect, you know what I mean?” the Washington Redskins wide receiver said Wednesday.

“I won’t ever, just because you’ve had a drop or two, pull myself out. That’s a coward,” Moss said. “I just felt like my leg wasn’t feeling good. I didn’t want to be out there if I couldn’t go 100 per cent.”

Full Story: Redskins’ Moss sleeps on it, gets over his awful day in Green Bay - [Canadian Press]

Related: Moss eases uphis self-criticism - [Free Lance Star]

Moss Takes Blame in Skins Loss

“I just didn’t feel right. I took myself out,” said Moss, who left the game shortly after a costly fumble. “Something wasn’t feeling right with me, and why go out there and keep another guy from helping us win? I wasn’t making the plays that I should have been making.”

“I’m going to blame me first,” Moss said. “I look at myself way harder than any of you guys do, or really harder than any teammate or coach is going to.”

Moss Enthusiastic About Week 6

Moss (groin) ran routes during pre-game warmups Sunday, and sounds “very enthused” about possibly returning in Week 6.

Moss ran at full speed, but was still deactivated against the Lions. He plans to return to practice on Wednesday.

Source: Washington Post

Gametime Decision Against the Lions

There was a bounce in Santana Moss’ step yesterday.

“I feel great,” the Washington Redskins’ No. 1 receiver said yesterday after he missed practice again but ran routes for the first time since he strained a groin on Sept. 23 against the New York Giants.

“I ran pretty good. That’s all I wanted. I did what I had to do today. I ran some routes [without coverage] That’s a different kind of route [than if] someone’s pulling on you. But the speed I ran it at and putting your foot in the ground and planting, everything was great.”

Moss Rebounds Against Eagles

In the opener against Miami, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley combined to catch just three passes for 28 yards. Though the Redskins won in overtime against the suspect Dolphins, Moss was furious at himself after suffering two uncharacteristic drops. And Cooley, such a crucial part of the team’s offense over the last three seasons, caught just one pass for 10 yards against a Miami defense that wanted to make quarterback Jason Campbell prove he could beat it downfield.

Last night both rebounded from that sluggish start, combining to catch eight passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in the 20-12 victory at Philadelphia.

Both did most of their damage in a first half that saw Campbell and Moss savage backup cornerback William James.

Full Story: Moss and Cooley rebound - [Washington Times]