Fred Davis Injury: Redskins Have No Reason to Worry About Loss of Starting TE

The Redskins may have lost starting tight end Fred Davis due to an Achilles injury suffered against the New York Giants in Week 7, but there is no reason to worry in Washington.

NBC's Mike Florio reports that Davis will miss the entire season due to the Achilles injury:

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Davis, we’re told, has a torn Achilles tendon.  It means that he’ll most definitely miss the rest of the year, and that the Redskins likely won’t be willing to give him a 120-percent raise over his 2012 salary in order to keep him in town for another year...

Usually, serious injuries like this can’t be diagnosed without an MRI or other diagnostic testing.  But when the Achilles tendon is torn, it’s usually obvious by feeling the back of the heel for the tendon and realizing it’s not there.

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There's always a black cloud above when a team loses a capable starting player, but of all pieces, Davis is one the Redskins can easily replace with a mere band-aid. 

Realistically, the only player the Redskins can't afford to lose is Robert Griffin III. Davis may be a solid receiver and blocker, but he hasn't been used to the best of his abilities with RG3 under center. Davis has the speed to beat linebackers and the size to handle most safeties, but with just 23 receptions for 312 yards and zero touchdowns, Washington clearly wasn't doing a great job of getting this matchup nightmare the rock in better fashion. 

Many thought Davis would have a career season in 2012 with RG3 starting. Generally, rookie QBs love to utilize their tight end because of the mismatches they represent when attacking defenses.

Davis is an ideal red zone target due to his size, leaping ability and body control, but he had yet to score this season. He is the type of player that can fly under the radar and find soft spots in the coverage with the focus on stopping RG3, but that simply never happened.

Griffin prefers to keep his eyes locked down the field to find somebody open for long gains when the passing game breaks down and defensive backs scramble to attack RG3 or find a man to guard. Davis was rarely a recipient of major gains down the field and was essentially a decoy in this offense. 

Considering Griffin III has been able to weather the Pierre Garcon storm, the Redskins have no reason to worry about losing a less dynamic and unproductive player in Davis. It will also help ease the pain that Logan Paulsen filled in and caught four passes for 76 yards against the G-Men. 

With Alfred Morris leading a bruising rushing attack and Mike Shanahan's coaching staff finding creative ways to march down the field, Washington will be a difficult team to compete with each and every week.