Zac Boyer will be entering his third season covering the Washington Redskins for The Free Lance-Star this fall. Make sure to follow Zac on Twitter (@ZacBoyer) for the latest updates or e-mail him with any questions at zboyer@freelancestar.com.
Chris Neild To Miss The Season With Torn ACL In Left Knee
By ZAC BOYER
ASHBURN – Chris Neild tore the ACL in his left knee at Washington Redskins practice on Monday and will miss the season, head coach Mike Shanahan said.
Neild
There was no damage to Neild’s meniscus, Shanahan said, and the team is projecting the nose tackle will be out of action for six months.
“It’s always disappointing when there’s a season-ending injury for any player on your football team,” Shanahan said. “You hate it for them. You hate it for your team. But we know these things are gonna occur. You’re hoping they don’t happen too often, especially to guys who were on your football team the year before. Chris is a fighter, and it’s just a temporary setback for him.”
The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Neild played in all 16 games for the Redskins last season, his first, as Barry Cofield’s backup. He has been battling Chris Baker through training camp for that role this season.
He made what may have been his biggest impact in the season opener against the New York Giants last season, the first game of his career, when he had three tackles and 1.5 sacks. He finished with 10 tackles.
Neild sustained the injury early in team drills in Monday’s practice and was able to walk off the field without an idea of what happened to his knee.
“Truthfully, I’m not even sure,” Neild said. “Hopefully nothing serious.”
