Update: Clinton Portis (Shoulder)
There's a fine line between what is an injury move and what is a coaching decision. A player says he's at less than 100 percent and the coach then has to decide if his backups are better options. That's the decision facing Redskins coach Joe Gibbs this weekend. Clinton Portis is reportedly assessing himself at about 75 percent, something my source calls "laughable -- none of his characters [i.e., people] is a doctor, I guess." Portis' shoulder is fully healed and ready to go, but the combination of Portis' value and the team's depth at running back gives Gibbs enough leeway to back off on Portis if he feels that's the right decision for his team. Late word out of DC is that Portis didn't pass Gibbs' tests and will be on the sidelines for Week 1. The Skins are playing the "better safe than sorry" card here and long-term concerns remain low for Portis. Ladell Betts gets the start.
