Injuries start to hit backups on offense

Byline: Ryan O'Halloran and David Elfin, THE WASHINGTON TIMES ARLINGTON, Texas -- Now even the Washington Redskins' backups thrust into key positions because of injuries can't stay on the field. Running back Ladell Betts suffered left MCL damage in the first quarter, and right guard Chad Rinehart suffered a fractured right fibula in the third quarter of the Redskins' 7-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Already without starters Clinton Portis and Randy Thomas at those two positions, the Redskins will move to their third tailback and fifth right guard next week at Philadelphia. With our injuries, it was, 'Not again,'" coach Jim Zorn said. We'll just keep putting the next guy in. Rock Cartwright replaced Betts and rushed 13 times for 67 yards. Edwin Williams replaced Rinehart to get his first significant NFL action. Fresh off a 114-yard game last week against Denver, Betts was injured on his third carry when linebacker Bradie James rolled him up from behind. It just felt awkward, said Betts, who limped off the field. I knewsomething was hurt, but I didn't know the severity or anything. Whenthey brought me to the sideline, they tested the stability, and the knee was moving around a little bit, so they shut me down and iced meup. Betts will undergo an MRI on Monday. Zorn ruled out Portis for thePhiladelphia game, and it's likely the Redskins will sign another running back (Marcus Mason is a candidate) to provide depth. Rinehart went down when he was rolled up by Cartwright. An air cast was immediately applied, and Rinehart was carted off the field. Surgery is possible for the second-year pro. Williams, a rookie free agent from Maryland (and DeMatha), played most of the second half. I'm happy I finally got to get my feet wet, he said. Timeout issues Trailing by a point, the Redskins started their final drive at the14-yard line with only one timeout after burning their first two earlier in the second half. The Redskins' first timeout came with 2:10 remaining in the third quarter and the second with 10:03 left in the fourth. We got caught on the clock, and I really don't know how it happened because I felt like we got the play and were in the huddle and we were down to one before we knew it, Zorn said. I absolutely have no idea how that happened. Zorn took blame for the second timeout, and quarterback Jason Campbell said there was a problem with the play as typed out on his wristband. We hurt Jason on that play, and I hurt him because I didn't have the needed call, and we got caught on time when we had a shift and a motion, Zorn said. It was totally on me. I screwed us out of that timeout. Gray, Memphis connected? A published report in Memphis this weekend listed Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray as one of several candidates for the University of Memphis' vacant coaching position. Neither Zorn nor Gray would comment on whether the latter had expressed interest in the job or interviewed for the position, which became open when Tommy West was fired earlier this month. We'll talk about that later, Gray said. Rogers doesn't start Cornerback Carlos Rogers, benched last week after getting burned in the first quarter by Denver's Brandon Marshall, didn't start Sunday. Instead, Fred Smoot started for the first time since last Nov. 30. I kinda expected it because Fred was out there first most of the week, said Rogers, who got on the field quickly when DeAngelo Hall left the game with a bruised right knee. It was no big deal. Hall returned two series later and teamed with Rogers, Smoot and Justin Tryon to shut out the Dallas wideouts for the first 54 minutes. Haynesworth inactive The Redskins made defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth inactive because of the sprained left ankle he suffered against the Broncos. Considered a game-time decision, Haynesworth didn't practice all week and didn't attempt to warm up before kickoff. With Haynesworth out, 2006 and 2008 regular Kedric Golston made his second start of the season, and the Redskins made 2007 starter Anthony Montgomery active for the first time. CAPTION(S): Right guard Chad Rinehart left in the third quarter after suffering a fractured right fibula. [Photo by Michael Connor/The Washington Times]