MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
It would be safe to call Fabian Washington's return to game action a success.
Washington missed nearly nine months after tearing his ACL last November, but tonight, he took to an NFL field for the first time since his injury, and the results couldn't have been much more positive.
He posted a tackle, batted away a pass, and most importantly, left the game feeling 100 percent healthy.
"I felt great," a smiling Washington said after the game. "I got to fly around, make a play here or there. I'm happy with it."
There were a few shaky minutes for Washington early in the game, however. The six-year veteran was so anxious about his return that he jokingly said he almost got sick.
"Oh man, I would say about the first three plays I was nervous enough to throw up," Washington said. "I was nervous. My legs started shaking. Once I got that out of the way, it was just football. It was like riding the bike."
From the sideline, head coach John Harbaugh was pleased with what he saw from his cornerback.
"He looked crisp, he looked good," Harbaugh said. "He didn't have an ill-effects that I know of. He kind of looked like the old Fabian."
There's one minor problem with "The old Fabian" being back - he has a tendency to drop interceptions. That was the case when he missed out on a Donovan McNabb pass in the first quarter, and the ball bounced to the turf.
"Oh my god, that's typical - me dropping the interception," Washington said. "That's something I've got to work on. I guess I'll be seeing the JUGS machine come Monday."
To Washington's fellow cornerback Chris Carr, the ultimate sign that Washington is now healthy came on a toss-sweep which sent a couple burly offensive lineman barreling right towards Washington.
"He had to come up and take on a couple big guys, and he went up there full speed and chopped out their legs," Carr said. "He looked comfortable, and it's good to see him back out there.
"You think about it, an ACL, that's a long road. So to see him out there having fun and playing comfortably, it's very good to see. He played well, so that's good for us."
