BEREA — Tight end Kellen Winslow was back at Browns headquarters Thursday but didn’t practice. He wasn’t on the practice field in the half-hour open to reporters or in the locker room during media availability.
Coach Romeo Crennel said there was a chance he could practice today in preparation for the Redskins game Sunday. Crennel said Winslow is questionable for the game.
Winslow spent three nights in the Cleveland Clinic last week with an undisclosed illness and didn’t play Monday in the 35-14 win over the Giants. It was the first game he missed since being sidelined for the 2005 season following a motorcycle accident.
Winslow went to the Pro Bowl last season and leads the team with 19 receptions, yet some have suggested the offense, which posted season highs in yardage and points against New York, was better off without him.
“He has been a big part of our offense, he is a tremendous player and competitor and he makes plays,” Crennel said Thursday. “I know defenses hate to see him out there.”
Steve Heiden replaced Winslow in the starting lineup and caught five passes for 59 yards, Darnell Dinkins became the No. 2 tight end and caught a 22-yard touchdown and the Browns rushed for a season-high 144 yards.
While Heiden and Dinkins are better blockers than Winslow, Crennel said it’s unfair to say Winslow’s absence improved the running game.
“I thought we ran the ball pretty good against Cincinnati,” Crennel said. “When you look at that opening drive, we ran it all the way down the field and scored. I think Winslow was there for that game.
“I’m not going to say the running game was better because of Heiden and Dinkins.”
Still coaching
Washington offensive line coach Joe Bugel, 68, has been around so long he was Crennel’s position coach at Western Kentucky in 1966-68. Bugel is in his 31st NFL season and led the Redskins’ “Hogs” offensive line of the 1980s.
“Joe is a tremendous football coach. He’s still doing an outstanding job of coaching,” said Crennel, who’s never coached on the same staff as Bugel in 28 years in the NFL. “He is a pretty aggressive coach and taught you to be aggressive on the field.
“Coaching gets in your blood.”
Crennel was asked if Bugel played a role in him becoming a coach.
“No. He had a role in me becoming a decent football player,” he said.
Shaffer better
Right tackle Kevin Shaffer made it through practice Wednesday without any setbacks, a big change from the previous Wednesday when he practiced for the first time since sustaining a concussion Sept. 28 against Cincinnati.
“A headache, being mentally slow, being closed in, feeling nauseous all came back to me,” he said. “I just felt terrible.
“I feel so much better than last week.”
Shaffer was scheduled to participate in his first contact drills Thursday and if he made it through would likely be cleared to play Sunday. Ryan Tucker started in his place Monday, and Crennel said the two will probably split time.
“We haven’t heard anything yet,” Shaffer, who was limited in practice Thursday, said of Tucker. “We’re real cool together. Coaches’ decisions are coaches’ decisions.
“I’m ready for whatever they call upon us. We know we have two starters.”
Injury report
Fullback Lawrence Vickers didn’t practice for personal reasons.
* Tucker was limited with a sore knee.
* Safety Brodney Pool (ankle) practiced and was removed from the injured list.
* For the Redskins, running back Clinton Portis (hip), left tackle Chris Samuels (ankle), defensive end Jason Taylor (calf), cornerback Carlos Rogers (calf) and safety Chris Horton (ankle) didn’t practice.
Rookies held out
Linebacker Beau Bell and tight end Martin Rucker, fourth-round draft picks in April, are recovered from preseason knee surgeries but are struggling to get on the field during games.
Rucker has yet to be active, while Bell was active three times, but saw his only playing time on special teams in a loss to Baltimore.
“They are both out there on the practice field and they are getting reps,” Crennel said. “But I can’t play everybody. We try to help them get better and when they are ready to go, we will have a spot for them. Right now they have to wait their turn.”
Crennel said Bell is a backup on all the special teams.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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