Jon Jansen Is Unhappy About Not Starting for the Redskins Anymore

Redskins head coach Jim Zorn made his first real bold move in his new team by demoting right tackle Jon Jansen in favor of Stephen Heyer.

It is really simple: Heyer has looked good in the preseason while Jansen hasn't. Still, Jansen doesn't see it that way:

"I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be out there," Jansen said. "I still believe myself to be the right tackle here, but it's not going to be that way on [Thursday], and that's what I have to deal with."

Jansen was given some explanations for the change, but "nothing that I felt was reason enough," he said. Zorn said the decision to go with Heyer was very difficult, citing the ability to best protect the passer as a key factor.

Jansen is the longest tenured Redskin and has started in every game he's played since being drafted in 1999. Jansen never missed a start in his first five seasons but has missed all of 2004 and nearly all of the 2007 season.

Heyer was an undrafted rookie in 2007 who saw a lot of playing time after Jansen dislocated his ankle in Week 1. Heyer became a team favorite due to his work ethic and his attitude after being "thrown into the fire" last year.

And like Zorn said, Heyer has shown a much better ability to protect Campbell. With Campbell's habit of fumbling the ball once he gets hit ... it is a big deal if you can be the guy that can prevent him from getting nailed.