The Redskins passed on re-signing free agent Tim Hightower because he needs a knee scope.

The Redskins were interested in bringing Hightower back after losing Roy Helu for the season, but were forced to go with Ryan Grant because of Hightower's health. Hightower suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn ACL during the preseason. Although scopes are minor operations, it will likely knock Hightower out for the rest of 2012.

The Redskins are open to bringing back free agent Tim Hightower once his surgically repaired knee is fully recovered.

Coach Mike Shanahan confirmed that Hightower suffered a setback with his knee after his preseason debut a week ago. Hightower was ineligible for the PUP list as well as the new "designated for return" injured reserve spot. It's easy to second-guess the Redskins' decision not to place Hightower on the camp/PUP list in late July.

The Washington Post believes Tim Hightower's release was due to the health of his knee.

Hightower, just 10 months removed from an ACL tear, played reasonably well in the third preseason game. Afterward, however, pain flared up and he was noticeably limping just a few days later. Hightower isn't going to attract any attention on the open market until he proves his knee is ready to go.

Redskins released RB Tim Hightower.

Hightower was already lacking burst and elusiveness before he tore his ACL last year. Now just 10 months removed from surgery, he wasn't ready to contribute. That leaves Evan Royster, Roy Helu and Alfred Morris as a three-headed backfield for Mike Shanahan entering Week 1. We still like Helu to eventually emerge as the only one in the trio with difference-making talent.

Tim Hightower had soreness in his surgically-repaired knee after making his preseason debut last week.

Hightower was held out of Wednesday's preseason finale as a result. The Redskins haven't labeled this a setback, but it's a reminder that Hightower isn't close to being back to pre-injury form entering the season. We wouldn't draft him in 12- or 14-team leagues.

Tim Hightower made his preseason debut Saturday against the Colts, rushing five times for 28 yards.

Hightower got great blocking on an 18-yard run, and managed 10 yards on his other four carries. He caught one pass for one yard. Hightower worked as the third-down back, primarily, behind rookie Alfred Morris. We don't expect a significant ball-carrying role for Hightower this season, although we wouldn't rule it out either. The Shananahans are pretty tough to predict.

Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) will make his preseason debut in Saturday's game against the Colts.

He'll split carries with Alfred Morris, who's starting with Evan Royster (knees) and Roy Helu (Achilles' tendons) sidelined. Hightower admitted Thursday he's behind schedule in his recovery, so it's possible he won't see more than a carry or two. Mercifully, his odds of opening the year as the Redskins' "starter" appear to be fading.

Tim Hightower hinted that he's been frustrated with his ACL recovery a month into training camp.

"I thought I was ready three months ago and I wasn't, so we'll see," Hightower conceded. The Redskins don't know if Hightower will be ready for Week 1, although he'll apparently be playing in Saturday afternoon's preseason matchup with the Colts. He may be playing that game to save his roster spot in D.C.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was noncommittal Wednesday when asked whether Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) and Roy Helu (Achilles' tendinitis) will be ready for Week 1 against the Saints.

"I really don't know yet," said Shanahan. Multiple media members claimed all offseason that Hightower would be the Redskins' Week 1 starter, but we continue to highly doubt that's going to happen. His knee recovery is clearly well behind schedule. The Skins are trying to get Helu rest for the tendinitis in his heels. He was in full pads for Wednesday's practice. Evan Royster remains the favorite to start in Week 1. We'd be willing to use a late-round pick on Helu and comfortably avoid Hightower in fantasy football drafts.

Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Colts.

Hightower is being slowly eased into full-team drills. "He practiced today, so hopefully he keeps getting better this week," coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "If he does feel good enough to play, we'll play him. If not, we'll try to play him in Tampa." Missing Saturday's game would kill Hightower's slim chances of being named the Redskins' Week 1 "starter." With Roy Helu sidelined with soreness in both Achilles' tendons, Evan Royster is the favorite.

Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) joined 11-on-11 drills Thursday for the first time since training camp begain.

Nine months removed from surgery, Hightower had been limited to individual and one-on-one drills throughout camp. "He did a lot of scout team plays," said coach Mike Shanahan. "But you can see he's making a lot of progress and we'll get a chance to evaluate him next week." Evan Royster remains the favorite to start the season opener.

Coach Mike Shanahan is hopeful that Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) will begin working in team drills by Friday.

Hightower has been limited to individual work throughout training camp. Although Shanahan insists Hightower has made "big strides," the Redskins are no longer confident that he will see game action before the preseason finale. We're not counting on a major impact for Hightower early in the season.

Tim Hightower is listed as the No. 1 running back on the Redskins' initial preseason depth chart, with Evan Royster second and Roy Helu third.

This, despite the fact that Hightower has yet to practice and isn't close to 100 percent by coach Mike Shanahan's own admission. In other words, pure Shanahan-igans. Royster has been running with the first team in Hightower's absence, but how Shanahan delegates touches in Washington's second and third preseason games will be far more telling than whatever he claims his depth chart looks like.

Coach Mike Shanahan plans to keep Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) out of extensive team drills until his knee is about 95 percent healed.

Shanahan has no timetable for the knee to reach that point. Hightower has drawn mixed reviews early in camp, with beat reporters suggesting he's not close to pre-injury form. According to ESPN.com's Dan Graziano, Evan Royster continues to draw the bulk of the first-team reps and seems to be "impressing the coaching staff the most" even if Roy Helu has clearly shown the most talent in the backfield.

Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) is "confident" he'll be ready for Week 1.

"I'm just getting better each day," Hightower said Monday. "I just went out there the first couple days to see how my body felt, and I just keep getting better. I'm still on track. I'll be out there Game 1." Hightower has been running with a "slight hitch," and coach Mike Shanahan even admitted his teacher's pet is "not close to 100 percent." If Hightower manages to suit up for Week 1, it will likely be as a pass-protector extraordinaire.

Coach Mike Shanahan conceded after Friday's training camp practice that Tim Hightower reconstructed left knee is "not close to 100 percent."

Hightower avoided active/PUP to start off camp, but he's been running with a hitch in his step and is not doing much on the practice field. It's no surprise that he isn't yet back to 100 percent. We don't envision a big 2012 role for Hightower, particularly as a ball carrier. The shockingly popular idea that he could be Washington's primary back seems especially far fetched.

Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) ran with a "slight hitch" Thursday, according to the Washington Post.

It's one of the main reasons we're not buying Hightower as the Redskins' "bell cow" this season. Already lacking explosiveness prior to his tear, Hightower is still only nine months removed from surgery. Reporters spotted him limping slightly as he made his way back to the huddle after runs. Roy Helu and Evan Royster will run circles around a limited Hightower.

Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) received medical clearance to open camp and worked lightly in 11-on-11 practice drills Thursday.

Evan Royster was the first-team back, with Roy Helu on the twos. Hightower worked in sparingly. His ACL recovery wound up going fine, which bodes well for his chances of making the roster. We're not buying Hightower as the Redskins' primary back, no matter what pre-camp speculation emanated out of D.C.

Coach Mike Shanahan refused to commit to Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) as his first-string tailback as training camp opened.

Offseason reports -- ostensibly emanating from Shanahan's office -- suggested Hightower would have the job once he's back to full health. "We'll let it play out," Shanahan emphasized Thursday. Hightower will be eased in with individual work and a few team drills early on, though he's still expected to be ready for the regular season. Although Evan Royster took the first-team in the opening practice, Roy Helu remains Rotoworld's pick as the fantasy back to own in the nation's capital.

The Washington Post believes that, "if healthy," Tim Hightower (ACL surgery) will be the Redskins' starting running back.

"Staring running back" and "touch leader" are two very different things, but the Post is nevertheless on the same page with the Washington Times in forecasting Hightower as a starter. For reasons both related to Hightower's health and effectiveness, we're still not buying it. Hightower is Rotoworld's No. 50 running back - 32 spots behind Roy Helu.