Redskins ILB Mason Foster headed to injured reserve with torn labrum

Add another quality starter to the Redskins’ injury report. Mason Foster has reportedly been playing with a torn labrum, and he’ll need surgery. He’s been placed on injured reserve.

Injuries happen. It’s a part of football. That being said, the Redskins are getting hit by the injury bug extra hard this year, to such a degree that it may put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. Ian Rapoport reported earlier today that starting ILB Mason Foster will need surgery for a torn labrum suffered earlier in the season.

The loss of Foster will loom large on the Redskins’ defense. He was an unquestioned leader of the unit along with D.J. Swearinger, and his presence was valued both stopping the run and defending against the pass. He was the Redskins’ best linebacker in coverage, and with him now gone to an injury, the Redskins are even thinner on that side of the ball.

It’s hard to overstate how bad the injuries have hurt the Redskins this year. Josh Norman has been out for a few weeks now with a rib injury, and his presence would have helped immensely against Philadelphia. Jonathan Allen has also been sorely missed. Out for the foreseeable future with a foot injury, Allen helped free up space for Matt Ioannidis on the defensive line. Ioannidis had 3.5 sacks in the first five games. In the Redskins’ first game without Allen, Ioannidis was invisible.

Foster’s injury is simply one to add to a laundry list of pre-existing ailments. These are trying times for the Redskins. With a good chunk of their starting lineup gone for Week 8, it’s fair to wonder if this team can even put up a fight. The depth of the team has taken a massive hit, and Foster’s injury only shakes salt in the wound.

Without Foster, Zach Brown will remain the starter, and Martrell Spaight will move into Foster’s place. Spaight has had a decent year, but the former sixth-round pick is still in the early stages of his development, and he’s been inconsistent in limited action. Will Compton will likely get more snaps as well, and there’s even a chance we could see Josh Harvey-Clemons. His combination of size and athleticism gives Clemons tantalizing potential. But we never planned on seeing him this year. Injuries have changed that.

Next: 5 matchups to watch in Redskins Week 8 vs. Cowboys

In the meantime, the Redskins will look to limp forward in the wake of injuries. It’s in times like these that contenders are sifted out of the rubble. The teams with the most resolve, the most hidden talent, and the most determination are the ones that stay the course. The Redskins were already being tested. With Foster gone, the test only gets harder.