Cornerback Josh Norman active for Redskins after early reports of being healthy scratch
One of the NFL's highest-paid cornerbacks was set to be a healthy scratch Sunday — until a reported last-minute reversal.
Josh Norman was expected to be listed as inactive for the Washington Redskins' game against Detroit Lions even though he is healthy, according to multiple reports Sunday morning. But ESPN reported that Washington "changed its mind" on scratching Norman, and he was indeed listed as active.
Norman, 31, is in the penultimate season of a five-year, $75 million contract that he signed with the team in 2016. A 2015 all-pro selection who was once considered to be among the NFL's top cornerbacks, Norman has been credited with six passes defended in eight starts so far this season while ending up on the wrong end of several long completions.
Earlier this week, Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was asked why his premier cornerback was off to a slow start, and Manusky didn't offer much of an explanation.
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“Couldn't tell you why. You got to ask him," Manusky told reporters. "I think from our situation, we're putting him in situations to make some plays, and we're just not making the plays. Sometimes that's across the board as well on a lot of other players too."
According to Spotrac.com, Norman's 2019 base salary of $10.8 million ranks second on the Redskins' payroll and third overall among NFL cornerbacks.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.