Tim

Hightower

So far, the plan is to use Hightower exclusively. The ex-Cardinal received 25-of-26 rushing attempts in Week 1 and Ryan Torain didn’t even play. As the Redskins’ most reliable pass protector and early-down runner, Hightower can expect massive workloads to continue. Shanahan is prepared to run him into the ground.

Shanahan also praised Helu’s playmaking ability. “One of the reasons we drafted him, and we were hoping we could get him when we did (fourth round), was his big-play capability,” Shanahan said. “He’s extremely fast ... and he’s got the chance to break the big play.” Helu remains the change-of-pace to Hightower’s feature back, but this has the look of an emerging committee. Hightower has a 3.73 YPC average through two games. Helu is at 6.91.

Shanahan nearly made the switch because Hightower couldn’t keep his balance, a big problem early in the game. “We can’t have the type of slippage we had,” said Shanahan, who has a propensity for pulling tailbacks at a moment’s notice. “Hopefully, we will have that problem rectified.” Added Shanahan, “I got a lot of belief in Ryan Torain.” Just keep in mind that Shanahan is also known for using the media as a motivational tool on running backs. Torain can’t function in the passing game, so it’s not realistic to think Hightower would’ve been benched. Shanahan’s comments do suggest that he envisions Torain as the immediate backup to Hightower, with Roy Helu locked into a change-of-pace role.

“I plan on playing,” said Hightower, who lost snaps before the Week 5 bye due to the shoulder injury. We won’t pretend that Washington’s game-day running back usage is predictable, but the D.C. beat writers expect Hightower to focus on passing downs only moving forward, with Ryan Torain as the feature back.

The full practice suggests Hightower is either close to or at 100 percent. His Week 7 workload is unclear, but our tentative expectation is that Ryan Torain will remain Washington’s feature back against Carolina’s 31st-ranked run defense. Hightower did not play a snap in last week’s loss to Philadelphia.

He practiced fully each day this week. Hightower can’t be used in fantasy leagues after playing zero snaps in Week 6, but he appears to be back to full health. He currently seems to be third in line for carries behind Ryan Torain and Roy Helu. Helu played over Hightower in passing situations last week.

There’s no competition, so there’s no rush. Hightower, returning from a torn left ACL, will likely sign a minimum deal. “We’re trying to re-sign Hightower,” Shanahan said. “You’re just hoping that he comes back full speed from his knee with the ACL. But, yeah, he’s a potential starter on our football team.”

Hightower, 26, averaged 3.82 yards per carry in five starts early last season before tearing his left ACL in Week 7. Due to persistent swelling in the knee, surgery was delayed until November 8. Now just over six months removed from the knee reconstruction, Hightower will return to compete with Roy Helu, Evan Royster, and rookie Alfred Morris for running back snaps. Helu has the most talent of the group and is the favorite to lead Washington’s backfield in 2012 touches. Hightower’s ideal role would be on obvious passing downs, where his bone-crushing blitz-pickup ability comes in most handy.

Hightower is still recovering from his Week 7 torn ACL and this is the first known interest he’s received outside of Washington. He’d fit in New England thanks to his ability to block and catch on passing downs. However, beat writer Mike Reiss says Hightower and Ryan Grant are likely getting their tires kicked so the Pats have a “depth option” ready in case of “emergency.”

Both sides have interest in a new deal, but the Redskins are up against the cap and Hightower is still rehabbing a torn ACL. Although Hightower is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery, he may have to wait until closer to training camp for talks, either with Washington or someone else, to heat up.