BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN
--The Washington Redskins entered a new season optimistic that the presence of second-year pass catchers Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas and Fred Davis would dramatically increase the offense's firepower.That wasn't the case in Week 1, though. The trio combined for only one catch and six receiving yards.
"We had a couple little glitches, but not bad," coach Jim Zorn said. "I think they're really improved. As we get them the ball, I expect them to be very effective."
That's one of Zorn's objectives in tomorrow's game against the St. Louis Rams.
"I want to get them involved," he said.
Kelly started against New York after winning the job in the preseason, and he played 28 of Washington's 49 offensive snaps. His only catch produced a first down on third-and-2 in the third quarter, but he was mostly ineffective.
"I'm not going to be that guy that goes: 'Hey coach, look at me,'" Kelly said. "When they call it, you've just got to be ready."
Davis played 13 snaps, each with fellow tight end Chris Cooley in the game. Cooley caught seven passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Davis was never targeted.
Still, Davis' run blocking was improved from his rookie season.
"I could probably dominate a blocker even more by finishing with my feet more," Davis said. "I got into a couple routes and got open a little bit, but they didn't have a lot of time [to throw]. I understand. I'll just keep on going."
Thomas played 17 snaps, all but one in a three- or four-receiver formation. No passes were thrown his way, but he did have one carry for zero yards.
REPTILIAN REDSKIN
Kelly and defensive end/linebacker Chris Wilson encountered an unexpected visitor at their locker yesterday.
Wilson was getting dressed after practice when he noticed something rustling near the floor. He called over Kelly, whose locker is adjacent to his. They pulled back a couple of pieces of clothing and shoe boxes to discover a 10-inch-long snake slithering along the baseboard.
"Somebody do something!" Wilson shouted.
The snake's presence made a few players squirm, to the amusement of others. The locker room was mostly empty at that point, save for a few players, reporters and team officials.
Luckily for Wilson and Kelly, tackle Stephon Heyer came to the rescue.
Heyer, ever the humanitarian, carried the snake outside by the tail and set it free as concerned teammates warned him about the snake possibly being poisonous. It wiggled free from his grasp a couple of times, and it snapped at Heyer each time he tried to pick it back up.
"I'm from Atlanta, and down south you see all types of bugs, insects, reptiles and stuff like that," he said. "Just pick him up and throw them outside."
As for Wilson's reaction?
"That means he hasn't seen one before," Heyer said. "He's from Flint, Michigan. Ain't no nature in Flint. It's a concrete jungle up there."
BRENNAN'S LABRUM FIXED
Quarterback Colt Brennan had surgery in Colorado last Monday to repair a small labrum tear in his left hip. He is expected to need about three months to recover before he can resume athletic activities, Zorn said. The procedure was similar to the one he had in the spring of 2008 on his right hip.
Brennan entered training camp with his sights set on being Jason Campbell's backup, but he faltered in the preseason while playing through the hip injury and a hamstring ailment. He was placed on injured reserve on the day of final cuts.
"It's a long deal, but he'll be out here," Zorn said. "He's kind of a gym rat. So he's going to be around."
EXTRA POINTS
Receiver Santana Moss and New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster were both fined $5,000 for their roles in a scuffle that occurred during the second quarter of last Sunday's game, according to an ESPN report. Safety LaRon Landry was also fined $5,000 for his late hit on Giants running back Brandon Jacobs in that game.
Tackle Chris Samuels participated in all of practice yesterday after sitting out for part of Thursday's session to rest his knee. Cornerback Fred Smoot was limited in practice with a rib injury, and he is probable for tomorrow's game against St. Louis. Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (right knee) is questionable after sitting out practice yesterday.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com