Josh Bidwell Appears Healthy; Redskins Punter Shuffle Stalls

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

Redskins fans know all about the revolving door at kicker that has continued since Norv Turner cut seven-year veteran Chip Lohmiller during training camp in 1995. Sixteen men have kicked for the Redskins in the 16 seasons since: Eddie Murray, Scott Blanton, Chris Jacke, Cary Blanchard, Brett Conway, Kris Hepnner, Michael Husted, Scott Bentley, James Tuthill, Jose Cortez, John Hall, Ola Kimrin, Jeff Chandler, Nick Novak, Shaun Suisham and Graham Gano.

However, Washington has had an even more difficult time settling on a punter since foolishly parting ways after the 1999 season with Matt Turk, a Pro Bowl pick in three of his five years with the Redskins. In the 11 seasons since the exit of Turk -- who's now with Houston as the NFL's second-oldest player -- Washington has called upon 16 men to punt, including kickers Conway, Tuthill, Suisham and last week, Gano. The regulars were Tommy Barnhardt, Bryan Barker, Craig Jarrett, Tom Tupa, Andy Groom, Derrick Frost, Durant Brooks, Ryan Plackemeier, Hunter Smith, Glenn Pakulak, Sam Paulescu and Josh Bidwell.

Remove Blanton, Jacke and Blanchard from the kicking list and Washington has used 13 kickers and 16 punters in the last 11 seasons. During those same 11 seasons, Shane Lechler has punted in all but two games and Sebastian Janikowski has kicked in all but three games for Oakland. The last game that either missed was the second week of 2002. That reduces Washington's list to eight kickers and 14 punters.

All of this is a prelude to Redskins coach Mike Shanahan's announcement Thursday that it looks like Bidwell, who tested his injured right hip by punting during this morning's monsoon in the Washington area, will be able to play Sunday at Philadelphia. The 35-year-old Bidwell, who missed all of 2009 following hip surgery with Tampa Bay, felt something pop in his hip last week at St. Louis, forcing Gano into double duty.

 

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