Bashaud Breeland

Redskins Should Not Rush Bashaud Breeland's Injury

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Washington Redskins defense has been agonizingly awful, giving up 54% on third downs. Part of the problem for the team has been the play of cornerback Bashaud Breeland.

According to The Washington Post’s Mike Jones, Bashaud Breeland is suffering with a “moderate” high-ankle strain and is week-to-week.

With veteran safety DeAngelo Hall out for the season with a torn ACL, the Washington Redskins could ill afford to lose Breeland, their starting cornerback. Although his performance has been horrid to start the season, the Redskins should not rush him back under any circumstances.

Breeland was torched by Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown for two touchdowns in Week 1 Monday Night Football rout 38-16. Dallas Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant also found success against the 24-year-old in Week 2 27-23 loss. Bryant collected 7 receptions for 102 after just one reception against the Giants. Following the Week 1 loss, he said the following according to ESPN’s John Keim.

I felt I was the No. 1 corner in the league and I still feel I’m the No. 1 corner in the league. Corners don’t get beat. That doesn’t define you as a corner. You live or die, you get back up and do it again. If they beat you 100 times, they beat you 100 times, but you still get back out there and do it again.
All of us should feel we’re the No. 1 corner in the league. As a unit, we would then play like it. That’s just my confidence. I ain’t got nothing against J-No. J-No is the No. 1 corner in the league right now. That’s what he is. We back him up 100 percent, and that’s what I’m trying to get. By him being the No. 1 corner and me trying to be the No. 1 corner [it’ll only help] the team to be good.”there and do it again.

Redskins doctors may need to check Breeland’s head for a possible head trauma after those quotes. Indeed, confidence is very important in sports, but if you talk to talk then you have to go back it up against elite receivers.

Although Breeland has an interception to his name, his overall display this year has been poor. He needs to improve quickly if the Redskins want to repeat as division champions. In order for him to play well, he needs to be fully healthy. The Redskins have to take it slow with him and make sure that he is ready to go before the rush him back.