The Redskins will be without their starting nose tackle for the team’s final game of the 2017 season. Defensive lineman Evander Hood fractured his right elbow in the team’s victory over the Broncos and will be unable to play in Week 17, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. On the positive side, Hood will not need surgery because of the injury.
This is the first game that “Ziggy” Hood has missed since he signed with Washington prior to the 2016-17 season. As the team’s primary nose tackle, Hood has gotten little in the ways of sacks and tackles. Even though he still ranks as just the 124th best interior defender this season, according to the metrics at Pro Football Focus.
The Redskins play the Giants this weekend, so there is little on the line in this game besides draft position. The team has two veterans to replace Hood in Terrell McClain and A.J. Francis, so Washington doesn’t need to bring in another nose tackle to help offset Hood’s absence.