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Some injuries on the offensive line necessitated Washington using its designated for return from IR spot on center Kory Lichtensteiger, but it also came with the recognition that first-round pick Josh Doctson needs more time.

By preparing to activate Lichtensteiger, the team pulled the plug on the rookie wide receiver, who played just two games this season because of a lingering Achilles injury.

“It is disappointing for all of us,” coach Jay Gruden said, via the team’s official website. “You know, we had high hopes for him coming out of TCU and the talent that he has and he’s disappointed but these things happen. There’s been a lot – if you look around the league, there’s a lot of first-rounders that didn’t get up and running this year for whatever reason and a lot of draft picks. So he’s just one of the guys that we have to take good care of.

“We have to make sure we get to the bottom of his injury and hopefully this gives his mental state of mind some peace that he can go out and rehab it and get it well for OTAs.”

The 22nd overall pick, Doctson was placed on IR in October, with hopes that time would help him return to the field. But when center Spencer Long suffered a concussion last week, the reality was they couldn’t wait for what might be a luxury, when more pressing needs existed.

And with the team’s top two wideouts potential free agents (DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon), they’re potentially going to need Doctson at 100 percent next year.