After winning four straight games, little can dampen the enthusiasm of Redskins coach Jay Gruden. One topic appears to come close, and that's when Gruden updates the status of rookie linebacker Su'a Cravens and star tight end Jordan Reed, both out with concussions.

Reed suffered a concussion in the 'Skins win in Baltimore, though it was not immediately known at the time. Last week, Reed felt concussion symptoms and was entered into the league's protocol.

After missing Sunday's game against the Eagles and not practicing at all last week, Gruden said simply, "Jordan Reed will see the independent doctor tomorrow," and added that he would have another update on Wednesday.

The scary part for all parties is this marks at least Reed's sixth concussion, a dangerous number of head injuries at a time when more and more is being discovered about the trauma caused by repeated shots to the helmet. The NFL protocol requires Reed be cleared by an independent doctor before the team can consider a timeline for being back on the field, and until that happens, conversations around Reed are quite limited.

Cravens being back on the field seems to be closer. After suffering a concussion against the Browns, the rookie from USC sat out the Ravens and Eagles game, though he went through individual drills with the team last week in Ashburn.

"We’re going to increase his practice reps this week and see where he’s at," Gruden said of Cravens.

Asked if that meant Cravens had been cleared from the protocol, the coach explained the procedure.

"It just means he can increase his work and then he’ll continue to get tested and go from there."

Without Reed and Cravens on the field against Philadelphia, the Redskins continued their win streak, stretching it to four games in a mostly impressive effort. That said, Washington would obviously love to have both players back on the field, or at least some clarity of when that may occur.

As is the case with concussions, clairty may take some time.

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