Running back Keiland Williams is trying to prove he can be the Redskins' feature back. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

The Washington Redskins know that although they are unlikely to make the playoffs, the final five games of the season are still extremely important.

How the Redskins play down the stretch will have a big impact on how things will go in the offseason.

Given the Redskins’ struggles in their first season under Mike Shanahan, a roster overhaul is likely. Effort hasn’t been a big problem. But the team still has too many weaknesses in key areas and too many square pegs in round holes in others.

So, there likely will be more comings and goings as Shanahan and Bruce Allen continue to try to mold the roster into something that resembles a championship caliber squad. The next five weeks basically is an audition for the Redskins’ players. Perform at a high level, and they likely will figure into the franchise’s future plans. Those that play poorly likely are on their way out.

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Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels will be a guest on TBD TV's SportsTalk with Parker and Parker tonight at 9 p.m.

Washington Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels will be an in-studio guest on TBD TV's SportsTalk with Parker and Parker tonight at 9 p.m.

The show, hosted by Alex Parker and Julie Parker, airs on Channel 8 in most D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland locations, and also on Channel 28 in some localities.

If you don't get TBD TV (formerly News Channel 8), you can watch the show live on TBD.com.

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Safety LaRon Landry remains sidelined with an inflamed left Achilles' tendon. (Photo: Heather Farrell)

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said that he still doesn’t know how much longer the Redskins will be without starting strong safety LaRon Landry, who has missed the last two games with an inflamed left Achilles’ tendon.

The fourth-year pro has been bothered by the injury much of the season, and had to be held out of the majority of the Redskins’ practices over a four week span to preserve him for game days. But finally two weeks ago, it got to the point where Landry couldn’t even run at all.

Since last week, Landry has been wearing a walking boot, but little progress has been made. Yesterday morning he took the boot off briefly, but still was walking very gingerly.

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After being a big part of Washington's offense in the two previous games, Keiland Williams had only six touches against the Vikings. (Photo: Associated Press)

Mike Shanahan offered little explanation as to why Keiland Williams went from being a big part of the offense in a win two weeks ago to being a seldom-used piece against the Vikings when asked today. The coach also said today that he doesn't know who the team's starting running back will be this Sunday against the New York Giants.

When Clinton Portis (who is scheduled to have surgery on his torn abdomen muscle on Tuesday) went on injured reserve, it appeared that Williams would take over as the Redskins’ feature back. Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan had both said that Williams would start and James Davis would spell him.

But on Sunday against the Vikings, Davis took over on the Redskins’ second possession and got twice as many carries as did Williams. The Redskins abandoned the run, so neither back got many opportunities. Davis had 11 yards on six carries, and Williams had five yards on three carries as Washington mustered only 29 yards on 13 carries.

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The Minnesota Vikings win on Sunday basically squashed the Redskins' playoff chances, but the players insist they will keep fighting. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

Entering their game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Washington Redskins had a slim chance of making the playoffs. To do so, they needed to go 5-1 the rest of the way. The date with the Vikings were supposed to be one of the most winnable games, but Washington ended up falling flat, 17-14.

Mathematically, the Redskins aren’t yet eliminated. They have to go 5-0 to close out the season and hope for a few losses from teams ahead of them. The chances of both happening are extremely unlikely, and the Redskins know that they already may be at the point of no return.

“I already feel like we’re at the point where it’s too many,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall says. “Too many things need to happen for us to actually get in there and be able to make the playoffs. It’s definitely a long shot. Do we still have hope according to the numbers? Absolutely. But you would like to be able to write your own fate. You would like to win some of the games we lost and write your own fate. But that didn’t happen so all we can do is worry about ourselves and let those teams worry about themselves.”

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Brandon Banks' 77-yard punt return for what would've been the game-winning touchdown was called back for a block in the back on rookie Perry Riley. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith expressed support and confidence in rookie linebacker Perry Riley despite the fact that the LSU product’s block in the back on Brandon Banks’ 77-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Riley, drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, was playing in only his third game of the season and got his opportunity on Sunday with several other special teams normals ailing.

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Mike Shanahan and the Redskins' playoff hopes basically went out the window with a 17-14 loss to the Vikings. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

The Washington Redskins can basically kiss the playoffs good-bye. Their chances were rather slim coming into their game against the Minnesota Vikings, but there was a glimmer of hope.

But now that they have fallen to 5-6 with only five games remaining, the Redskins would have to win out and also hope that a number of teams ahead of them go on nose-dives for Washington to have a chance. Yeah, good luck with that.

The Redskins certainly didn’t play like a team whose season was on the line today. There were miscues on both sides of the ball: missed tackles and blown coverages on defense, dropped passes, blown blocking assignments, a non-existent rushing attack on offense.

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The Washington Redskins suffered yet another crushing defeat, this time to a Minnesota Viking team that had seen its head coach fired last Monday and lost running back Adrian Peterson early in the second quarter today.

But instead of capitalizing, the Redskins fell short, lacking balance on offense, failing to convert on third downs again, and whiffing when they needed to make key stops as the game came down to the wire.

The Redskins sum up the defeat in their own words:

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Mike Shanahan and the Redskins are going for their sixth win of the season. (Photo: Heather Farrell)

A costly block in the back, a failed defensive stand with less than two minutes left and more third-quarter woes for the Redskins' offense all combined for the makings of a 17-13 Minnesota Vikings victory at FedEx Field.

The Washington Redskins came up short once again in another game they should've won. A block in the back by rookie linebacker Perry Riley during an 77-yard Brandon Banks punt return nullified Banks' potentially game-winning touchdown. The offense failed for a fifth time in the second quarter to convert a third down. Then the defense let Brett Favre & Co. march downfield and milk the clock. The clincher was Favre scrambling 10 yards for a first down to put his team in victory formation with no timeouts left.

The Redskins fall to 5-6 and likely say good-bye to their playoff hopes.

Update 3:50 p.m. -- Definitely not the first full-time showing the rookie linebacker Perry Riley wanted.

Riley has been inactive for all but two games this season, and got the nod for a third appearance today with other linebackers playing with injuries.

Riley was in on special teams and has definitely had an impact -- negative that is -- for the Redskins.

First, his block in the pack on a Brandon Banks punt return backed Donovan McNabb & Co. up to the shadow of their goal line and on first-and-10 from the 5 yard line, Santana Moss let a pass go through his hands and off his facemask and Minnesota linebacker E.J. Henderson intercepted it. The Vikings scored a field goal to go up 17-7.

Washington still had hope, however. With just more than seven minutes left, Banks ripped off an 77-yard punt return for a touchdown . . . but Riley was called for yet another block in the back, taking the seven points -- seven points that would've put Washington up 20-17 -- off the board.

The Vikings went on to win 17-13.

Of course, Riley wasn't totally to blame, and yes, he'll be on the team. There were plenty of other breakdowns that also proved costly in this latest Redskins loss.

The defense let Toby Gerhart run over them for key gains, and the offense couldn't buy a second-half third-down conversion. Donovan McNabb underthrew Anthony Armstrong on what would've been a touchdown pass, but instead only set up a field goal. And the defense let Brett Favre roll out and run for 10 yards and a first down right after the two-minute warning.

The Redskins had their chances indeed. Instead of pulling out a win and keeping playoff chances alive, they're basically done for the year after falling to 5-6 thanks to this 17-13 loss.

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This year the Vikings have somehow make the Redskins look like a smoothly running machine. Come enjoy that during the game with other fans like you.

Joining us in today's live chat are Mark Steven of The Om Field, John Jeffries of BGO.C.D., Jon Kelman of DC Landing Strip, Ryan Estorninos of Riggo's Rag and Daniel Victor of TBD. They'll be leading the way with second-by-second analysis and reaction, but we hope you'll be talking just as much. Speak out with whatever you've got and jump in the discussion.

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Keiland Williams takes over as the feature back with Clinton Portis done for the year and Ryan Torain out indefinitely

Well, game day is here and the Washington Redskins are set to take on the Minnesota Vikings in hopes of improving to 6-5 on the season and keeping their slim playoff chances alive.

We’ll find out shortly which players the Redskins will have available to them as 10 players -- Lorenzo Alexander (hamstring), Brandon Banks (knee), Derrick Dockery (knee), Kedric Golston (elbow/groin), Artis Hicks (thigh), Jeremy Jarmon (hamstring), Rocky McIntosh (thigh), Santana Moss (knee), Casey Rabach (knee), Carlos Rogers (hamstring) -- were listed on the injury report as questionable for today’s matchup with many of them being game-time decisions.

But until then, here are the key matchups for this game, some Redskins’ fast facts, and now, five things to watch as Washington hosts Minnesota:

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Terrence Austin has been promoted to the 53-man roster to replace Joey Galloway, who was cut after 10 unproductive games. (Photo: Associated Press)

The Washington Redskins apparently have lost patience with unproductive wide receiver Joey Galloway.

The team announced this evening that they have cut the 39-year-old and replaced him on the 53-man roster with rookie seventh-round draft pick Terrence Austin.

Galloway, who seven days ago turned 39, has recorded only 12 catches for 173 yards in 10 games for the Redskins and even drew the criticism of head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan for incorrectly running pass routes. Three times in the last four games, passes intended for Galloway were intercepted.

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Redskins coach Mike Shanahan believes that center Casey Rabach (61) will play on Sunday despite suffering a second-degree MCL tear last Sunday. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins linemen Casey Rabach and Artis Hicks are both likely to play on Sunday despite injuries that knocked Rabach out of last week’s game against the Tennessee Titans, and kept Hicks from suiting up at all.

Rabach, the team's starting center, suffered a second-degree MCL tear in the first quarter of Washington’s 19-16 overtime win over the Titans. And Hicks, the starting right guard, missed the game with what was described as “thigh/groin trauma.” Both have made improvements and coach Mike Shanahan said he expects them to both play against Minnesota on Sunday.

“I believe so, if there’s no setback,” Shanahan said. “We just have to evaluate where they are game time. That’s where we are in a lot of situations: You have a lot of guys that practiced today, but are they going to be full speed? If they do play, can they play the whole game, or we going to put them in for five, 10 plays and then have a setback, and then have to put the second, third strings in? What gives you the best chance to win? That’s what we have to decide in the next 48 hours before game time.”

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By scrambling for 20 yards on Sunday, Donovan McNabb can move past John Elway for sixth place on the all-time list for rushing yards by a quarterback. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

The Washington Redskins on Sunday will take on the Minnesota Vikings and hope to improve to 6-5 on the season and keep  their post-season hopes alive.

The key matchups for the game can be found right here, and here's a look at some fast facts for this game:

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London Fletcher and the Redskins defense must contain Vikings RB Adrian Peterson. (Photo: Jay Westcott/TBD)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS
SUNDAY, NOV. 28, 1 p.m.
TV: FOX
RADIO: ESPN 980-AM, 92.7-FM, 94.3-FM

The Washington Redskins kick off a crucial six-game homestretch with a game against a Minnesota Vikings team that is in disarray having entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, but instead own a 3-7 record and just got their coach Brad Childress fired.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier takes over, but an in-season turnaround seems rather unlikely at this point. The Vikings still have talent, with 10 Pro Bowl players from last season on the roster, but poor quarterback play and a defense that has struggled with execution are two of the big reasons why Minnesota is having a bad season.

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Leading receiver Santana Moss has been bothered by a knee injury and missed practice today. (Photo: Associated Press)

The Washington Redskins again were without key members of their team as strong safety LaRon Landry and wide receiver Santana Moss both missed today's practice with injury.

Landry is still hobbled by an inflamed Achilles' tendon while Moss was sidelined with a knee injury. Running back Ryan Torain and defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon also sat out practice, both with hamstring strains.

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Keiland Williams has gradually proven himself to be a well-rounded threat for the Redskins. (Photo: Associated Press)

If is such thing as good news surrounding the Washington Redskins’ news of moving running back Clinton Portis to the injured reserve list and ending his season, it’s the fact that at center stage stands Keiland Williams, whom the team over the course of the season -- maybe unknowingly -- has groomed to take his place as they begin this crucial six-game homestretch.

In Williams, the Redskins have a talented, young back that has gradually developed into a rather well-rounded weapon. Williams remains a work in progress, but while working up the ranks has proven himself capable of producing on special teams, as a rusher, as a pass catcher and pass protector.

Signed as a free agent by the Redskins this past spring after he went undrafted out of LSU, Williams beat out Ryan Torain and veteran Willie Parker for a spot on the team when the initial 53-man roster cuts were made, but a few weeks later, he was cut and re-signed to the practice squad. At that point, it looked as if Williams’ chances of contributing this season were rather slim. Portis was gradually rounding back into form, and Torain was elevated from the practice squad and had a strong performance off the bench against St. Louis in Week 3.

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Second-year safety Macho Harris landed a spot with the Redskins after performing well in a workout on Tuesday. (Photo: Associated Press)

When the Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly cut second-year defensive back Macho Harris this past preseason, the former Virginia Tech standout returned to Virginia and trained while waiting for his agent to set up workouts with other teams.

One of the tools Harris used to remain in shape and keep his football skills sharp was playing flag football in Fairfax. The safety can’t even remember exactly how he stumbled into playing. He just remembers it being recommended him. He figured if Carolina receiver Steve Smith could do it in the offseason to stay primed physically, why couldn’t he?

But Harris was worried about someone finding out who he was and that he had played in the NFL, he used multiple layers of clothing to disguise his chiseled physique, and he tried not to go full throttle in games.

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Mike Shanahan had 14 players listed on today's injury report and won't know how many of them will be available Sunday until the end of the week. (Photo: Associated Press)

Mike Shanahan had no choice but to lead his battered team through a glorified jog-through today, and 14 players were listed on the injury report.

All of the Redskins’ banged up offensive linemen went through a limited practice today and are hoping to play on Sunday. But although center Casey Rabach (partially torn MCL), right guard Artis Hicks (thigh/groin) and backup left guard Derrick Dockery (knee) took reps, Shanahan said he won’t really know just how healthy they are until the team goes through a full-speed practice.

Walking off of the practice field, Rabach said “I feel good.” When asked if he thought he could play on Sunday, he said, “That’s the plan.”

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Clinton Portis prognosis is a lower abdomen tear, just above the groin, and he will require "a couple" months of recovery time.

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said that the prognosis on running back Clinton Portis is a torn lower abdomen muscle, right above the groin, which will require surgery and a recovery time of “a couple months.”

“It really is disappointing, because he has really worked so hard to get back to where he was at,” Shanahan said of Portis, who hasn’t yet been officially placed on Injured Reserve, but will be, the coach said. “A lot of hard work, he was encouraging all the other players, and was a big part of this football team. You hate to see somebody work that hard and not get an opportunity to finish the season.”

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