ASHBURN, Va. -- He dispensed wisdom when it was needed, urging a teammate here or correcting a technique there. That was all he could do since the time spring practices began. That's not what DeAngelo Hall wanted to be doing, even if he did have helpful things to say.
What the Washington Redskins safety wanted was to do what he did this week: put on a helmet and practice. He spent the first six weeks on the physically unable to perform list. Now that he has started to practice, the Redskins have 21 days to activate him or place him on injured reserve. He can't play until next week's game against the Dallas Cowboys, at the earliest.
"I feel like I'm moving pretty good," Hall said. "All the coaches and players are mesmerized at how well I'm moving. I've felt good for a while, so I'm not surprised; even making a little bit of plays, so I feel good. I'm ready to roll whenever my number's called."
Hall tore his right ACL in Week 3 last season; along with a previous knee issue and an Achilles tendon injury, he has missed a combined 31 of the past 48 games. He turns 34 next month, so that's a tough path to travel. However, the Redskins value his knowledge; they wanted to see what he had left and how much he could still help. After all, he has helped them since 2008 -- first as a corner, before moving to safety full time midway through the 2015 season.
They don't need him to start, not as long as Montae Nicholson and D.J. Swearinger keep playing well. But they could rotate him, perhaps playing him in their base looks, with Nicholson playing in their nickel packages. Or they could just use Hall as a third safety for whenever needed.
Regardless, Hall is glad he had the extra time to recover. He's in the final year of his contract and realistic about his future (which could include broadcasting or working in a front office).
"This is possibly my last chance to make a difference," Hall said. "By waiting six weeks, I felt that gave me the best chance.
"I feel I could have been back a lot earlier. But ... this really gave it a chance to heal and gives myself a chance to be successful and to go out there pain-free."
Hall said he started feeling pain-free a few weeks ago. But the pain of not playing hasn't gone away. He helped by serving as a de facto assistant coach, but that's not a role Hall wants. Not now; not ever.
"I was one of those guys who still felt they could do it so why am I over here?" Hall said. "You get some coaches who tell you all the time their stories instead of, 'All right, man, we're trying to win a game.' We don't want to hear about you doing this in the '80s. So I felt like one of those guys, always giving situations and scenarios about how I played it or something like that.
"Hell, the guys probably hated me to an extent. But no, I mean coaching isn't something I want to do. Just not my style. Hats off to the guys who do it. Coaching is not my thing. Not at all."