Tyler

Polumbus

This one has Mike Shanahan’s fingerprints all over it. Polumbus was a pet project of Shanny’s in Denver after going undrafted out of Colorado in 2008. He has tremendous size, but the problem is Polumbus can’t play. He’s annually graded out as one of the league’s worst tackles. There are no signs of life from this Redskins offense.

It sounds like Brown’s injury is of the week-to-week variety, leaving his status in doubt for the next two games against Jason Pierre-Paul’s Giants and Jared Allen’s Vikings. Well-traveled swinging gate Tyler Polumbus will have his hands full trying to prevent Rex Grossman’s patented sack-fumble move.

Brown will need rest and rehabilitation, not surgery. There’s no target date for a return, but his season is not in jeopardy. Still, it’s fair to wonder if Tyler Polumbus is a better option at right tackle anyway. Brown has been wildly inconsistent while playing hurt over the last two seasons.

Polumbus started 15 games at right tackle for Washington last season, but he was completely over-matched as both a run and pass blocker. The Redskins re-signed Polumbus to a two-year deal, but they also brought in veterans Jeremy Trueblood and Tony Pashos as competition. The team is also reportedly very high on 2012 sixth-round pick Tom Compton, but he might be another year away.

Polumbus has been a swinging gate as an injury fill-in for two years in Denver and Seattle. The Seahawks will go forward with undrafted rookie Jerriel King as the backup left tackle.

Polumbus is only competing with the likes of Jeremy Trueblood and Tony Pashos after starting 15 games last season. 2012 sixth-round pick Tom Compton is expected to stay on the left side for now, backing up Trent Williams.

Polumbus has not even been cleared to practice since sustaining his concussion in the Week 15 win at Cleveland. Maurice Hurt, who handled himself well in a Week 16 spot-start, will likely get the nod again for Sunday night’s showdown with the Cowboys.

Polumbus suffered the concussion in Week 15, and Maurice Hurt filled in well against the Eagles last week. As we know, getting cleared to practice isn’t the final hurdle. Polumbus will still need to be cleared by an independent neurologist in advance of Sunday’s playoff play-in game against the Cowboys.

Polumbus suffered the head injury in last week’s win over the Browns. Jordan Black replaced him in the lineup, but he was later suspended for four games this week due to a positive PED test. Polumbus missed practice on Thursday, but he was limited on Wednesday and Friday. He has graded out as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-worst starting offensive tackle in the league this season.

It’s a surprise after Polumbus practiced on Friday and was expected to play. He must not have gained final clearance from an independent neurologist. It’s a blow the continuity of a Redskins’ offensive line that has remained remarkably healthy this year, but Polumbus is just a backup-caliber talent anyway. Maurice Hurt will start and we wouldn’t expect much of a drop-off.