Washington Redskins London Fletcher set to break a consecutive games record

Washington Redskins inside linebacker London Fletcher (59) is introduced prior to the Redskins game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Redskins veteran linebacker London Fletcher is playing limited snaps this season at the age of 38, and it’s a move that benefits both Fletcher and the Redskins. The Redskins are able to keep Fletcher fresh, and this in turn helps to prolong the 16-year veteran’s career. Backup LB Nick Barnett is another veteran who has had a successful career, and he is getting a slight uptick in snaps thanks to the rest Fletcher is getting. In fact, I think Barnett is the better player at this stage of both players’s careers, but Fletcher’s leadership is clearly something the Redskins value highly; I don’t blame them given the issues that young players like Bacarri Rambo are having.

According to CSN Washington’s Rich Tandler, London Fletcher is set to play in his 244th consecutive game tomorrow against the Oakland Raiders, and Fletcher already owns the highest active consecutive games streak. With his 224th straight appearance, Fletcher will also set the record for the most consecutive games played by a defensive player since the merger, which is a record that fearsome linebacker Bill Romanowski set.

So far this season, London Fletcher has recorded 23 tackles and a sack, but the future Hall of Famer has also contributed to the Washington Redskins missed tackle-fest with five of his own. He has clearly lost a step since his prime, but he is better than Nick Barnett in the passing game and is also a key leader.

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