Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker Will Miss Remainder of Redskins' Season

One day after suffering a tough loss to the St. Louis Rams, the Washington Redskins received even more bad news.

Linebacker Brian Orakpo, who aggravated a left pectoral injury in the loss and couldn't finish out the game, is done for the year. So is defensive end Adam Carriker.

The Redskins and The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson tweeted the news on Monday:

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Redskins coach Mike Shanahan announced to Washington reporters today that Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker out for the season.

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) September 17, 2012"

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Shanahan says #Redskins OLB Brian Orakpo tore a different part of his left pec, also done for the season (four month recovery time).

— Redskins (@Redskins) September 17, 2012"

According to The Washington Post's Mark Maske, original speculation stated that Orakpo may have re-injured the left pectoral muscle that required offseason surgery earlier this year. It turns out it's a different injury, though one that will still require surgery.

Carriker injured his right leg during Sunday's loss.

After the game, head coach Mike Shanahan indicated that the outlook for Carriker wouldn't be good, per The Washington Post's Mark Maske and Gene Wang, and it seems he was right. Both he and Orakpo are due for surgery this week, the Redskins tweeted:

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Shanahan says both Carriker and Orakpo will get surgery within the next week.

— Redskins (@Redskins) September 17, 2012"

The losses present a big blow to the Redskins' defense and to the Redskins as a whole, who looked so strong after an opening-game win over the Saints.

Now, after suffering a close loss to the Rams and losing two key defensive players in the process, fear has returned that Washington could be in for another long season.