Zorn 'cautious' about Portis's return

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was knocked out of Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter, suffering an apparent concussion on a run that was called back because of a holding call.

Portis, the Redskins' leading rusher on the season, took the ball from quarterback Jason Campbell and ran around the left tackle with 3 minutes 26 seconds left in the first quarter and the Redskins trailing, 7-0. Center Casey Rabach was called for holding on the play. Portis fell hard to the Georgia Dome turf when he was tackled by Atlanta defensive backs Chevis Jackson and Thomas DeCoud.

Portis lay face-down on the turf for a few seconds before team athletic trainers rolled him over. Coach Jim Zorn said Portis was "knocked out."

"You tell me what happened," Portis said after the game. "I don't remember what happened."

Zorn said it was too early to say how long Portis might be out, if at all.

"He had kind of one of those smiles on his face that you know [he] was wondering what the heck happened," Zorn said. "I would never make a diagnosis on a guy getting knocked out. We just have to wait and see. There'll be some tests to see whether or not there was a concussion and how long it takes."

Zorn said the team would be "cautious" about Portis's return. Portis spent the second half of the game on the sideline in a T-shirt and athletic shorts.

"I got a headache," he said. "I'm sore. But I think I'll be all right."

Portis, who ran just four times for four yards, was replaced by backup Ladell Betts, who carried 15 times for 70 yards -- more than in any game since 2006 -- and scored a touchdown on a fourth-down play from the 1.

Portis's injury was just one in a slew suffered by the Redskins Sunday. Campbell, who was sacked five times, was twice knocked from the game, the first time in the first half with a chest bruise, the next with what Zorn later described as a "high-ankle sprain" in the second half. Campbell returned even after the sprain, and he'll be evaluated during the week.



(washigtonpost.com)