Mike Shanahan Searching, Searching for young Running Back

Lost in the news about Clinton Portis’ groin injury and what that means to the team, are the Washington Redskins’ moves to shore up the running back position. Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen have been pretty busy restocking the practice squad.

Stay with me now. This gets confusing.

Washington RB Javarris James to the practice squad Tuesday, hours after James was cut from the New England Patriots practice squad. The Indianapolis Colts signed James off the ‘Skins practice squad to their team roster on Thursday. The Colts visit FedEx Field to play the Redskins Sunday, October 17.

James is a cousin of Edgerrin James. He comes from good stock, but he can’t possible know enough about Washington’s playbook to give the Colts any insight.

Quinn Porter is another matter.

Several news outlets report that the Redskins signed Porter to the practice squad this week, replacing James. The team’s web site at redskins.com does not yet report that information, as I write this. Porter signed a rookie contract with the Green Bay Packers, Washington’s opponent this Sunday, in April. The Packers placed him on injured reserve with a strained MCL in August, then released him with an injury settlement in late September.

Wait a minute. New Orleans Drew Brees has a strained MCL, but he’s playing. Quinn Porter’s strained MCL got him added to the IR list, then released by the Packers.

There is no reason why Porter shouldn’t share what he knows about the Packers’ playbook and game plan, but is he recovered enough to practice and play for the team? Will he stick around for more than a week?

RB Keiland Williams returned to the practice squad Wednesday and released LB Mike Balogun.

Here’s what I like. All these moves involve young players. A year ago, the ‘Skins would have recalled Larry Johnson or Willie Parker who could give the team more, right now, than any of the rookies mentioned in this story. That’s a win-now-just-in-case move. Shanahan and Allen appear to be searching for new talent who might renew the team.

Love it.