Just days after being named the team's starter, Washington Redskins tight end Niles Paul is now done for the season.
Paul was carted off the field Thursday with a nasty ankle injury. Coach Jay Gruden announced after the game that the converted wide receiver has a season-ending ankle fracture dislocation.
"A huge loss for us," Gruden said. "He's a great player and a great leader."
The team immediately put an air cast on his ankle before Paul left the field in the first quarter of the team's 20-17 preseason-opening win against the Cleveland Browns.
Early Friday morning, Paul tweeted his disappointment with the injury.
Paul wasn't the only Redskins player to go down.
Running back Silas Redd will undergo an MRI in the morning for a knee injury that is believed to be tears to his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Redd was vying for the third-string job behind starter Alfred Morris and rookie Matt Jones.
Known as a hard worker and versatile talent, Paul was playing ahead of Jordan Reed after adding a whopping 27 pounds and improving his blocking ability during the offseason.
Although the loss of Paul will hurt in pass protection and run blocking, the Redskins are fortunate to have Reed as a superior receiving option.
One of the most athletic "move" tight ends in the league, Reed has difference-making potential if he can stay healthy. As we've seen over the past three years, though, that's a huge "if."
