Maybe it's because he hasn't forgotten not playing in a single game as a Baltimore rookie in 2001 after starting 48 games during his four seasons at Wisconsin. Maybe it's because he's an offensive lineman and the leader of Washington's line. Or maybe he's just naturally tough. Whatever the reason, Redskins center Casey Rabach was on the field for practice today, just three days after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in a 19-16 overtime victory at Tennessee.
"If I can play, I'm going to play," said Rabach, who left the Titans' game during the first half and was replaced by Will Montgomery. "That's what I plan to do on Sunday (against visiting Minnesota). As far as (I'm concerned), I'm ready to play. I never want to let my teammates down. As far as taking pride in it, I don't think too much about it other than it's my job to be out there to play football. That's what I love to do and I'm going to do it if I can."
Since becoming a full-time starter with the Ravens in 2004, Rabach has missed just one game. That was in 2007, his third year with the Redskins, when he sat out against Arizona with a groin injury. The previous year, he played with a broken hand. He has also refused to come out of the lineup despite a torn labrum.
"I've never had a real bad, bad injury," claimed the 32-year-old Sturgeon Bay, Wis. native, referring to the broken hand and torn labrum as pain management. "It's just the instability of it with the torn ligament that you worry about."
Rabach was cut down by friendly fire in the person of right tackle Jammal Brown.
"I felt Jammal cut the hell out of me and buckle my knee," Rabach said. "It's sore. I'm making progress, definitely. Obviously Sunday hurt real bad. Monday hurt real bad. Tuesday's not as bad. Today's (better). I'm just trying to strengthen my quad and play with injury."
Which is what comes naturally to Rabach, the line's only holdover starter.
"He's a Midwest kind of guy," explained Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, a Chicagoan who turns 34 tomorrow. "A lot of us Midwest guys are pretty tough. That's what you want your offensive linemen to be. You want them to battle through injury. You want them to play hurt and just sell out for (their) team."
Casey Rabach Plans to Tough it Out
Nov 24, 2010 – 6:58 PM
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