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          Reduced role helped Terrelle Pryor's foot heal, now he's looking for more chances

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          • John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterNov 1, 2017, 10:00 PM
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              John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on 'The John Keim Report', which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
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          ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins receiver Terrelle Pryor looked at his reduced role as a gift. The Redskins coaches wanted to try and get more production so they turned to Josh Doctson. But in doing so, Pryor said it provided his foot time to heal from a bad bruise.

          Pryor said two parts of his right foot are bruised.

          "It's just not fun. It feels good that I was able to rest it," Pryor said. "I'm dealing with that, fighting that and continue to not put wear and tear on it, so at the end of the day it helped me."

          That's one way to look at it -- and probably the best way to limit the frustration.

          Still, this isn't what Pryor envisioned when he signed with Washington in the offseason, receiving a one-year $6-million deal. One year after catching 70 passes for 1,007 yards with Cleveland, he's caught 18 passes for 223 yards with Washington. The Redskins have other targets so he wasn't going to be the main focus the way he needed to be for the Browns last season.

          But more was anticipated.

          Pryor has played a combined 48 snaps the last two games, with only eight occurring in the first half of those two losses. He's been targeted 34 times this season, but 11 were in the season opener. Since then, he hasn't been targeted more than five times in a game.

          Josh Doctson, has caught a combined four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown since replacing Pryor as the starting X receiver. They were targeted a combined four times last week. Some of that stemmed from not wanting quarterback Kirk Cousins to wait on long-developing routes down the field. Some of that is because they have other weapons they use more – namely tight end Jordan Reed, receiver Jamison Crowder and running back Chris Thompson.

          With numerous injuries on offense -- Reed likely won't play Sunday; Crowder might miss it, too -- Pryor will be needed. Pryor said he'd likely "be up more" Sunday at Seattle.

          "It's still a long season," Pryor said. "If you get opportunities it can still be special and we can still make plays. ... You guys know how it is, we don't get a lot of targets around here. But when we do we have to take advantage of them and maybe they'll come more. That's all we can do, take advantage of that."