LaRon Landry said he hopes to return from a strained Achilles tendon at some point this season, and possibly this week. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

Washington Redskins strong safety LaRon Landry said today that he hopes to return to practice on Wednesday after spending the last two weeks in a walking boot because of a strained left Achilles’ tendon.

Landry has missed the last three games, and before that played despite severe pain and swelling in the tendon. Prior to missing his first game on Nov. 21, Landry hadn’t been able to practice fully for four straight weeks.

The tendon got so sensitive, however, that he wasn’t able to run at all, and doctors feared that an injection to the area would cause his Achilles to rupture.

Today, Landry was walking around without the boot and said he is moving better now although still not 100 percent.

“Everything’s getting better,” he said. “It’s just a slow healing process. I’m just taking it a day at a time and doing what my body tells me to.”

Given the seriousness of Landry’s injury, which if he were to rupture the tendon would require surgery and likely a year of recovery time, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if the Redskins placed him on the season-ending injured reserve list. And given the fact that the Redskins are 5-7 and out of playoff contention, it would almost seem a Landry return wouldn’t be worth the risk.

But the team has continued to hold out hope that Landry could make a return at some point. And the fourth-year safety is confident that he will play again this season.

“This year? Oh, hell yeah. It’s a great chance of me coming back,” he said. “Don’t rule me out! I’m looking forward to playing this week. I’m walking better, and can run a little bit.”

Mike Shanahan today expressed similar optimism.

“He’s going to give it a shot this week, he’s out of his boot, and hopefully he can help us out this week,” the coach said.

Prior to getting hurt, Landry was having a career year, recording 85 tackles (which at the time was tied for first on the team), a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. Despite his inactivity, he still is the leading NFC Pro Bowl vote-getter at his position.

Shanahan said that running back Ryan Torain, who has missed four games with a strained left hamstring, is expected to practice without limitations on Wednesday. Shanahan wasn’t sure about the availability of cornerback Carlos Rogers, who also is nursing a strained left hamstring. Rookie left tackle Trent Williams on Sunday was reduced to a reserve role by a shoulder injury, but Shanahan expected him to be able to practice Wednesday as well.