Washington downgrades Clinton Portis

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis, who is recovering from a separated shoulder suffered in the preseason, has been ruled out for tomorrow night's road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
He was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on the injury report. Coach Joe Gibbs said Portis will not play.

Portis wore pads and said he "ran a few routes" in yesterday's practice, but apparently that wasn't enough.
"If a guy doesn't practice, then he is not going to play," Gibbs said. "I would say he will probably tell me he can play on game day.
"It is tough. What I am thankful for is that, hopefully, he will be back next week."

Gibbs said Ladell Betts, T.J. Duckett and Rock Cartwright will be the running backs against the Cowboys.
Portis played in a backup role Monday night against Minnesota. He carried 10 times for 39 yards and a touchdown in a 19-16 loss, but he has complained of soreness all week.
Portis told reporters yesterday that he is holding out hope that he will be able to play tomorrow night.

As usual, he wavered from serious to playful, making it difficult to discern whether he really feels he can play. At one point, he said: "I eat gunpowder twice a day now. As long as I'm on this gunpowder, I think I'm going to be all right."
Cornerback Shawn Springs, recovering from abdominal surgery, was downgraded from doubtful to out.