FanHouse Chris Samuels

The news that Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels may have to retire because of the neck injury that has sidelined him this year is just the cherry on the top of a miserable season in Washington. The team has become where everyone else goes for their first win. Fans are chanting at games for the owner to sell the team and the head coach just had his play calling duties taken away from him.

But for the long-term success of the Redskins, the Samuels news may be the worst thing that's happened to Washington all year. With Samuels gone, the Redskins will depend on right tackle Stephen Heyer to play the left side for the rest of the season, but they don't have a long-term answer on the roster.

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Six-time Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels has decided to retire, the Washington Post reported. Samuels left Washington's Week 5 loss at Carolina after hurting his neck, an injury that was initially called a "stinger."

It was later revealed, though, that Samuels suffers from stenosis, which is a condition that causes narrowing of the spine.

Samuels has not played since the injury occurred. He was expected to meet with a neck specialist earlier this week to determine his long-term status, and the Post's report would seem to indicate that the prognosis was not good.

After 10 seasons and 123 NFL starts, right tackle Jon Jansen has been shown the door by the Washington Redskins. Jansen, a 6-foot-6 305-pound 33-year-old, was drafted in the second round of the 1999 draft by the Redskins out of Michigan. He became an immediate starter and put together a solid career in Washington.

Via press release from owner Dan Snyder Friday, the Redskins notified the media that they will move on. The full press release follows:

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington's offensive line was arguably one of the biggest culprits responsible for the team's last-place, 8-8 finish in 2008. Yet, as the Redskins wrapped up their first OTA of the summer on Thursday, four months from the 2009 season opener, their starters up front appear set.

Almost.

The 'Skins are, for better or worse, basically settled at left tackle (Chris Samuels), both guard spots (Derrick Dockery and Randy Thomas) and center (Casey Rabach), but there's approximately an entire roster's worth of guys battling to start at right tackle. And, so far, it's hard to pick a favorite.

The AFC and NFC Pro Bowlers were announced a short while ago, and why make some pointless comment you are sure not to laugh at when we can just give you the rosters instead? Here goes.

Washington Redskins Pro-Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season.

Samuels will require surgery after tearing his right triceps in the fourth quarter of the 24-10 loss. Also placed on injured reserve was offensive lineman Justin Geisinger, who sustained a meniscus injury in his left knee while serving as an emergency fill-in for Samuels and injured right tackle Jon Jansen.

Jansen, who sprained a ligament in his left knee in the fourth quarter, remains on the active roster, although it remains unclear whether he will be able to play again this season. Stephon Heyer and Jason Fabini are expected to start at tackle Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Redskins stayed busy yesterday. They added tackle Devin Clark from the practice squad and signed former Panthers and Jets guard Will Montgomery. Washington also released defensive end Erasmus James.

All this is great news for quarterback Jason Campbell and his blind side. Not that the side he could see was doing any better.

The Redskins have dropped four of their last five games, and at 7-6, they'll need to win out to even have a shot at the postseason. There are plenty of reasons for the slide, although the most popular is the inconsistent play of quarterback Jason Campbell.

It comes with the job, but the injuries along the offensive line certainly haven't helped Campbell's play. And that was never more evident than Sunday night against the Ravens. Campbell was under pressure all evening, which is what happens when you're without your starting right tackle, and your left tackle goes down midway through the game.

It's difficult to remember the play, considering it was the first game of the season, but do you remember the very last play of Game 1 in 2008? Chris Samuels got beat by Mathias Kiwanuka and appeared to either dive or fall on the back of Kiwanuka's ankle, nearly injuring him in the process. In the aftermath, Kiwanuka declared the play dirty.

Despite what I said above and the fact that it's been three months, Kiwanuka himself has not forgotten the play. He is also making sure everyone knows that he's not going to go out and pick a fight or play dirty himself:

"That was the last image I had, the last play, the last image I had for the whole game, so, yeah, it will be in the back of my mind, but I am not going to do anything stupid."

"You don't want to focus on it? No. There are so many other things," Kiwanuka said. "I think you use it as a motivating factor and past that you just let it go."

Both the Cowboys are Redskins are coming off a bye. Both lost big games to physical teams the last time they took the field. Injuries have been the buzzword in both cities. And all fans involved are quite nervous that a great start may go for naught.

In a weird scheduling quirk, Week 11 will see the Redskins play their first home game against a division opponent. That is what makes the game so huge ... especially for Dallas. A Washington win gives them the ultimate tiebreaker and puts them at 3-1 against NFC East teams while Dallas would fall to 1-3.

Prime time hasn't been kind to Washington. The Skins have lost both night games they have played (Giants, Steelers). These two teams aren't strangers to the national stage. This will be their fourth ever Sunday Night meeting to go along with 14 Monday Night games and six Thanksgiving Day games.