Portis Reverses Field, Is Now Probable

In yet another twist in the Portis saga, it looks like he will play on Monday night.

Redskins running back Clinton Portis spent the previous two days telling everyone he likely wouldn't play Monday. But Portis is good at reversing field and he did so Saturday.

Coach Joe Gibbs now says Portis will play a backup role Monday, a day after Portis said he was shooting for the Dallas game.

''If I had to say, I think Ladell [Betts] will start and Clinton will play a backup role in the game," Gibbs told reporters today. "That's the way I think it's going to go. I think that's what we've tried to accurately portray during the week."

Gibbs had not ruled Portis out, but the star back had declared himself only 75 percent healthy on Thursday. On Friday, he joked that he was now 83 percent and bumped that up to 93.9 percent Saturday.

However, it's uncertain what role Portis will play. He did spent most of his time this week catching passes out of the backfield. He's an excellent pass protector and could fill that role Monday.

Meanwhile, defensive end Renaldo Wynn was downgraded to doubtful. Wynn had practiced this week.