NFL: Fiedler returns, might start against Redskins

Wednesday, quarterback Jay Fiedler went through a full practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury a month ago.

Fiedler has missed the past four games with a left knee injury suffered late in the New England game on Oct. 19. Brian Griese has started in his place and struggled, throwing four interceptions, getting sacked 10 times and fumbling four times.

"I felt pretty good out there," said Fiedler, who is wearing a brace. "I went through all of the drills, did a lot more full-speed stuff. The soreness was down to a minimum. I was able to go back-to-back plays for a good period of time."

Miami head coach Dave Wannstedt said Griese and Fiedler, who previously had performed some individual drills, both took snaps with the first team, but wouldn't elaborate any further. He said he would watch how the two did in practice the rest of the week and then make a determination on who would start Sunday night when the Dolphins (6-4) play the Redskins at 8:30 at Pro Player Stadium.

"It could be a game-time decision publicly as far as who's starting at quarterback," Wannstedt said. "Both guys worked (Wednesday) and we'll see where it's at (today)."

Wannstedt stressed he wasn't playing any "media games" by not naming a starter, just that he wanted to make sure the right decision was made "in-house."

Prior to practice, Fiedler said forgetting about his injury would be the only thing holding him back from being ready.

"I think that the main thing is how much confidence I'm going to have in my leg," Fiedler said. "That's the No. 1 thing. I can't go out there and feel like I'm conscious of how my leg is going to react.

"I've got to go out there and just play and go through all of my reads without thinking about a drop or taking a step a certain way. When I feel like that, it'll be quick."

HOW 'O' FITS IN THE 'O': The signing of Oronde Gadsden gives the Dolphins another weapon offensively. With Gadsden not playing at all up to this point and missing almost all of training camp, Wannstedt is unsure how quickly he'll be ready to go.

"We're just sitting in there and we're talking and going through different scenarios," Wannstedt said. "After talking to him and seeing him work out, I thought you know what, this might give us a chance to make a few more plays in certain situations and if it does, if it can help the team, why not do it?"

Wannstedt said there would have to be adjustments made in the offense to get in plays that are Gadsden's strengths, such as the fade. However, the main part of his game appears to be ready.

"Everything we threw in his direction was caught," receivers coach Robert Ford said.

Wannstedt said Derrius Thompson would start at receiver opposite Chris Chambers. Thompson has caught just 15 passes, less than half as many as Chambers, who has 37.

INJURY REPORT: No Dolphins were listed worse than questionable on Wednesday's injury report, including Fiedler. Guards Jamie Nails (ankle) and Todd Perry (elbow), center Tim Ruddy (knee) and cornerback Patrick Surtain (ankle) all are questionable. Defensive tackle Larry Chester (quad), linebacker Zach Thomas (shoulder) and safety Shawn Wooden (hamstring) are probable.

Nails and Perry did not practice Wednesday. Both were sidelined during the Baltimore game, with rookie Billy Yates and Greg Jerman replacing them. With Ruddy expected to start on Sunday, Seth McKinney took snaps at left guard and Jerman was at right guard during Wednesday's practice.

For the Redskins, running back Ladell Betts (arm) and center Larry Moore (foot) are doubtful. Cornerback Rashad Bauman (ankle), fullback Rock Cartwright (ankle), defensive tackle Jermaine Haley (hand/shoulder), safety Andre Lott (ankle), return man Chad Morton (ankle) and quarterback Patrick Ramsey (foot) are questionable.

Redskins head coach Steve Spurrier said Ramsey did not practice Wednesday morning.

It was revealed this week that Ramsey has been playing with a broken bone in his foot for quite some time.

"When he sets to throw, his right foot, I think, has been giving him a lot of problems," Spurrier said. "So Tim Hasselbeck, a young man we signed about three weeks ago, took all of the snaps in practice.

If Patrick's foot is bothering him as such, he doesn't feel like he can really run and plant on it, we'll let Tim go play this week."

Spurrier indicated that he would make a decision late in the week on his starting quarterback.