The Redskins started three members of their 2013 draft class in the secondary for their first preseason game of the year, but that won’t be happening again this week.
Coach Mike Shanahan announced on Tuesday afternoon that safety Phillip Thomas will be placed on injured reserve after doctors found a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot. Shanahan said that Thomas will have surgery and be sidelined four-to-five months, which means he’s out of the picture for the team this season.
Thomas, a fourth-round pick in April, started alongside fellow rookie Bacarri Rambo against the Titans last weekend, but was forced out of the game after injuring his foot while making a tackle. The injury was originally described as a sprained foot, but further evaluation discovered the season-ending injury.
The loss of Thomas makes a healthy season from Brandon Meriweather all the more important for the Redskins. Meriweather returned to practice last week after missing time with soreness in the surgically-repaired knee that all but cost him his 2012 season. The Redskins want Meriweather at one starting spot and Rambo may now be the likeliest player to be next to him in the lineup. DeJon Gomes and Reed Doughty, returnees from last year’s disappointing secondary, are other in-house options for the Redskins.