Redskins 411: Brunell to Miss Minicamp
Brunell should be back for training camp
Brunell should be back for training camp

Posted Jun 11, 2006


Quarterback Mark Brunell will miss next weekend's mandatory minicamp after breaking the index finger on his left (throwing) hand during an organized team drill on May 31. After the June 16-18 minicamp the team is off until training camp in late July and Brunell is expected to be fully healed by then.

 
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Brunell, who led the Redskins to their first playoff appearance in six years last season, fractured the finger when it hit the helmet of a defensive player as he completed a passing motion.

"It'll take three weeks and that will be it," Brunell told The Washington Times before signing autographs at the Redskins Beach Blitz fan festival on June 2 in Virginia Beach, Va.

Brunell, who had a small wrap on the finger, said the fracture is a "clean break" and won't require surgery. The fracture is the first such injury of the 35-year-old's career.

"I'm not concerned at all, really," he said. "It's nothing too serious."

Backup quarterback Jason Campbell is no fan of smacking fingers on helmets.

"When you're in the throwing motion, you're coming down and when you hit the helmet, it's hard to describe that feeling," Campbell said. "You could bruise or break your thumb, so you're always careful. (The index finger) has a lot to do with the rotation of the ball, helps you get a firm grip and helps your accuracy."

With Brunell out, 2005 first-round draft choice Campbell and Todd Collins, signed as a free agent in March from Kansas City where he played the past five years in new offensive boss Al Saunders' system, will likely split the first-team snaps during minicamp.

"The main thing for me is getting the offense down so I don't have to worry about everything when I'm on the field and I can just be myself," Campbell said.

In his nine seasons with Jacksonville, Brunell had elbow, hamstring and knee injuries but still started at least 13 games seven times. Brunell was hampered by a pulled hamstring in the first half of 2004, his first year in Washington, and by a sprained knee late last season.

Quotes and Notes

--Nearly six weeks after the draft and none of the six players chosen by Washington is apparently close to signing. This even though only linebacker Rocky McIntosh was among the top 152 players taken.

--The Redskins conclude organized team activities on June 14. Players report for minicamp on June 15 and will be on the field June 16-18. After that, they're not due back at Redskin Park until they report for training camp on July 30.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm very happy that everything legally has been handled for Sean. I felt confident about it the whole time. I've said it over and over -- Sean's one of my favorite people that I've coached and I take it personally in trying to help him mature. I look forward to really good years from now on for Sean." -- Assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams on safety Sean Taylor.


Related Stories
In the Spotlight: Mark Brunell
 -by WarpathInsiders.com  May 24, 2006
Q&A With Mark Brunell
 -by WarpathInsiders.com  Jul 2, 2006
Q&A With: Joe Gibbs
 -by WarpathInsiders.com  Jul 30, 2006

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