E.J.

Biggers

Talib aggravated the injury in the first quarter versus the Cowboys. The Bucs’ top corner will finish the season with 34 tackles and two interceptions in 13 games. Talib is signed through 2012, though he could open the season on suspension pending the outcome of his scheduled March 2012 trial for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. E.J. Biggers will move into the starting lineup as Talib’s replacement.

The Bucs had some bad luck on Friday, as Arrelious Benn also went down with a sprained MCL. Biggers was in line to open the year as the Bucs’ third corner, but he may now miss a few early regular season games. Myron Lewis, Anthony Gaitor, and rookie Keith Tandy will pick up additional reps in the meantime.

Wright took a knee to the helmet from Redskins LG Kory Lichtensteiger. He stayed down for awhile and then looked woozy on the sideline before walking to the locker room under his own power. E.J. Biggers has come on.

Outside of an embarrassing performance against Hakeem Nicks in Week 2, Talib has played well this season. It’s an upgrade for Dwayne Bowe if Brady Quinn can get him the ball. Bucs inactives: OG Cody Wallace, TE Danny Noble, CB Anthony Gaitor, WR Chris Owusu, RB Michael Smith, S Keith Tandy and DE Markus White.

It’s an underrated get for the cap-strapped Redskins. The 6'0/185 Biggers was the lone bright spot in Tampa’s rancid secondary last season, grading out as a top-20 coverage corner according to ProFootballFocus. There’s also a familiarity in the scheme as former Bucs head coach and current Redskins secondary coach Raheem Morris was with Biggers for his first two NFL seasons. Still just 25 years old, the 2009 seventh-round pick has 24 career starts under his belt. If the Redskins don’t bring back free agent DeAngelo Hall, Biggers could be penciled in at left corner.

We haven’t heard a peep on Biggers since the season ended. A lanky corner at 6-foot and 185 pounds, Biggers was probably the Bucs’ best corner in what was a terrible group last season. He could likely be had on a one-year deal, and he may be an option for the Redskins with former coach Raheem Morris.

Josh Wilson is locked in on the right side. We’d consider Biggers the heavy favorite to win this battle as Crawford is undersized and struggled as a rookie. Minnifield may never be able to get over his litany of knee woes. Regardless, Crawford is an excellent bet to stick on the roster thanks to his contributions in the return game. He averaged a whopping 19.5 yards on eight punt returns last year.

Biggers appeared in 15 games for the Redskins last season, mostly as a slot man. He finished 102nd out of 108 qualifiers in PFF’s corner grades, so he’d fit right in with Philly’s annually leaky pass defense. Chip Kelly is in need of secondary help as the Eagles currently don’t have a bookend to Byron Maxwell and incumbent slot corner Brandon Boykin has been the subject of trade rumors. They also still have a major hole at safety and Biggers has made five starts there in his career.

After whiffing on just about every one of their secondary targets in free agency, the Redskins need to add bodies. Biggers appeared in all 16 games for Washington last season, mostly as a sub-package coverage safety and fourth corner. And like the rest of his teammates, he struggled badly as the secondary ranked 20th in the league while giving up the 21st-most passing touchdowns. The Redskins must get secondary help in May’s draft.

The Redskins are looking to add cornerback depth and will likely bring back Biggers on a one-year deal. Biggers, 26, appeared in all 16 games (five starts) last season and is also capable of filling in at safety.