Nose tackle Phil Taylor was having a terrific training camp for the Washington Redskins. Now, his season, and possibly his career, is over.
Everyone loves a good comeback story. And there was perhaps no better comeback story in the entire NFL this summer than Phil Taylor attempting to resurrect a once-promising career with the Washington Redskins.
Unfortunately for Taylor and the Redskins, that comeback hit a snag on Sunday when Taylor was injured in Washington’s third preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Taylor suffered a quad injury, the extent of which wasn’t known until an MRI on Monday confirmed the worst.
Redskins nose tackle Phil Taylor will miss the season because of his quad injury suffered Sunday, a source said.... https://t.co/wCPCy4bjxh
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 28, 2017
Taylor, a former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns back in 2011, missed each of the last two seasons with leg injuries. He was signed to a reserve/future contract in January by the Redskins and hoped to resurrect his career with his hometown team. Taylor, from nearby Clinton, MD, grew up a Redskins fan.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Sadly, Taylor’s time in the NFL could now be over. He’ll be 30 next season coming off three consecutive seasons of not playing in a regular-season game. How many players have stared down those odds to make an NFL roster?
Taylor’s story is sad on many levels. Personally, Taylor was rejuvenated and looked a lot like the player Cleveland selected from Baylor back in 2011. He appeared as quick as ever, clogging running lanes, roaming from sideline to sideline and collapsing the pocket. Taylor was arguably Washington’s best defensive lineman this summer. No, not the team’s best nose tackle, but best lineman period.
Now, the Redskins will look to players like Joey Mbu, A.J. Francis, Ziggy Hood, Matt Ioannidis and Stacy McGee to fill in at nose tackle. Ioannidis, Hood and McGee are virtual locks to make the team and can move all along the defensive line. However, Mbu and Francis both have golden opportunities in front of them now.
As for Taylor, fans, coaches and teammates were all equally devasted after hearing his fate and reactions poured in throughout social media.
Damn man.... SICK for my guy @PhilTaylor98
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) August 28, 2017
And more.
https://twitter.com/CSNRedskins/status/902318931679080449
Football is always about the next man up, and that’s no different here. But sometimes it’s important to stop for a minute and appreciate someone like Taylor. He had it all, was essentially out of the league and fought all the way back to have it taken from him.
Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Preseason Week 4
Best of luck, Phil Taylor. Hope to see him get one more shot at this next offseason.