

Redskins strong safety Brandon Meriweather (31) will miss the rest of the season because of a sprained toe. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Hampered for a third straight week by a badly sprained toe, Brandon Meriweather will go on the season-ending injured reserve list, the Redskins announced Friday afternoon.

Meriweather sprained the big toe on his right foot three weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts and missed the games against the Rams and Giants. He tried to take part in position drills Wednesday, but the toe remained painful, hindering his mobility.

The injury-shortened season is the second in the past three years for Meriweather, who this past offseason re-signed with Washington on a one-year deal. The eighth-year veteran originally signed with Washington in 2012, but missed all but one game because of knee injuries. Meriweather missed time both to injury and suspension in 2013, playing 13 games. He missed the first two games of this season because of another illegal helmet-to-helmet hit and had played 10 straight games before leaving the first half of the Colts’ game because of the toe injury.

With Meriweather out, second-year pro Phillip Thomas will make his third straight start at strong safety.

Washington promoted linebacker Steve Beauharnais from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, filling the spot vacated by Meriweather.

Also on Friday, the Redskins announced that defensive end Jason Hatcher will not play in Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles because of inflammation in his right knee. This marks the second straight game Hatcher has missed. The defensive end, who was Washington’s biggest free agent signing, said Thursday there is a “strong possibility” that he doesn’t play in the final game, next week against Dallas.

The Redskins also have ruled out backup linebacker Gabe Miller (sprained left ankle).

Meantime, left tackle Trent Williams (strained right shoulder) has been listed as questionable. Williams suffered the injury late in the third quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Giants. He had yet to regain full strength in the shoulder as of Thursday afternoon, but he remained hopeful that he could play Saturday.

If Williams can’t play, Tom Compton would start at left tackle (moving from his starting spot at right tackle), and Tyler Polumbus would step in at right tackle.

The Redskins listed starting inside linebacker Keenan Robinson (knee) as doubtful for Saturday’s game. Will Compton has started the last two games in place of Robinson, who sprained his right MCL against Indianapolis.

Listed as probable are Compton (shoulder), running back Roy Helu Jr (toe), center Kory Lichtensteiger (knee), nose tackle Chris Baker (chest/toe) and safety Trenton Robinson (illness).

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