PLAYER NOTES
–RB Chris Thompson (rib) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. He has missed three of the past four games.
–WR Maurice Harris is coming off a career game with 10 receptions for 124 yards. No Redskins receiver had topped 100 yards in a game since Nov. 23, 2017.
–WR Jamison Crowder (ankle) doesn’t appear close to a return. He has worn a protective boot the past few weeks and didn’t practice again Wednesday.
–RB Adrian Peterson (shoulder) was limited at practice Wednesday coming off his lowest rushing total of the season Sunday against Atlanta.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: QB Alex Smith finally put up 300 yards passing last week against Atlanta after three straight games of sub-180 yards, but Washington fell behind 14-0 early and was blown out. The Redskins are searching for a happy medium. Smith is scuffling and the offensive line in front of him is patchwork at best. He does protect the ball with nine touchdowns to just three interceptions.
GAME PLAN: If the Redskins are going to make a playoff run this is a game they need. The Buccaneers are 3-5 and fading. They have fired their defensive coordinator (Mike Smith), a top receiver has asked for a trade (DeSean Jackson) and quarterback Jameis Winston has been a mess with 10 interceptions in four games after returning from a three-game suspension.
Enter Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was great early in the season after upset wins over New Orleans and Atlanta. He will try to regain that magic against the Redskins, who must be aware of Fitzpatrick’s ability to make something out of nothing. He has a good crew of receiving threats in Jackson, Mike Evans and tight end O.J. Howard. Howard, especially, could make life hard on a Washington team that never seems to handle top tight ends well. Can inside linebackers Mason Foster and Zach Brown keep up with him?
Washington’s defense has been opportunistic this season and Tampa Bay has been brutal holding onto the ball. That will be key to limiting what can be a big-play offense when the quarterback play is there.
The Redskins need to get back to their winning formula: Run the ball with Adrian Peterson, take care of the ball with Alex Smith, get tight end Jordan Reed more involved and get out to an early lead. The Redskins are 5-0 when scoring first and 0-3 when they don’t. This isn’t a team capable of coming from behind this season.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Redskins CB Josh Norman vs. Buccaneers WR Mike Evans. Norman has been traveling more against top receivers in part because he has to with so many young corners on the roster and Quinton Dunbar hurt. Evans, dealing with a knee injury that kept him from practicing Wednesday, is a massive target at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. He has 47 catches, four touchdowns and 786 yards.
–Buccaneers DE Jason Pierre-Paul DT vs. Redskins LT Ty Nsekhe. Pierre-Paul has had a career resurgence with eight sacks in eight games and has always made life miserable for the Redskins dating back to his days in New York with the Giants. Nsekhe is no pushover, though. He has often spelled Pro Bowler Trent Williams the past three seasons with 12 starts and is tough to get around at 6-8, 300 pounds. He needs to keep Pierre-Paul off quarterback Alex Smith.
