Junior Galette Injury Update: Redskins DE Out with Achilles, Jay Gruden Says at Practice

Junior Galette was expected to be a key play-maker for the Washington Redskins' defense, but it appears that his season is over before it began. Head coach Jay Gruden is very concerned about what appears to be a torn Achilles that Galette suffered during Wednesday's practice.

Dianna Marie Russini reported on Twitter that a team source said the expectation is that Galette tore his ACL.

Early injury report on Junior Galette, team source says looks like a torn Achilles. #Redskins
— Dianna Marie Russini (@diannaESPN) August 26, 2015

Needless to say, this is a major disappointment for the Redskins and their defense with the 2015 NFL season about to get underway. There is no question that Galette would have added the type of pass rush that the Redskins were in desperate need of last season. He was an extremely consistent threat for opposing quarterbacks over the past two years with the New Orleans Saints, recording 10.0 and 12.0 sacks in the 2014 and 2013 seasons, respectively.

At 6-foot-2 and 258 pounds, he is an absolute nightmare for opposing offensive lines to block. His impressive speed and acceleration give him an immediate advantage over the opposing line.

Jay Gruden is in desperate need of improvement on the defensive side of the football this season, especially with the offense being inconsistent. They simply don't have many defensive playmakers, and losing Galette gives them even fewer than they would have had. He was expected to be a veteran leader for the defense, as well.

Looking ahead to the 2015 season, the Redskins will have to figure out creative ways to get to the quarterback. It isn't going to be easy for them, to say the least, but every team has to figure out ways around difficulties throughout the long haul.

That said, this remains bad news for the Redskins and Galette. He was excited to be given the fresh start in Washington, and now he'll have to attack a tough rehabiliation process. Assuming this report is accurate, Washington's defense has gotten a lot weaker. Regardless, Galette is a competitor and will be back next season--looking to prove himself once again.