Jason Fabini had been cut by the New York Jets and Dallas before signing with Washington in March as a 32-year-old reserve tackle. Stephon Heyer wasn't chosen in the 2007 draft and signed with Washington as a rookie free agent in May.

But as the Redskins won their final four games to earn a playoff berth, Fabini was at right guard and Heyer at right tackle. Washington averaged 360 yards and 23 points in the four regular season games with that combination in the lineup.

"When you're used to reacting a certain way your whole career, it takes a while to get used to reacting differently," Fabini said of the transition to guard. "Things happen quicker inside. I was satisfied with how I played. The real rewarding part was down the stretch when everybody counted us out and we had a little run that we needed. That was the most fun I had had in a long time."

Heyer, who had expected to be taken in the 2006 draft before blowing out a knee on the eve of Maryland's 2005 season and thus adding a redshirt senior year, was happy, too.

"Being able to do what I did, I'm proud of myself and grateful to the organization for giving me the opportunity, not seeing me as a guy who couldn't play because he wasn't drafted," said Heyer, who opened eyes around the country by shutting down Michael Strahan on national television in Week 15 as the Redskins pounded the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants at the Meadowlands. "I took the opportunity and ran with it."

However, both players' runs at celebrity have been halted by the return to health of Thomas and Jansen. If all goes according to plan, Fabini and Heyer won't play in 2008.

"You never want to be a backup, but as your career goes on, you've got to accept your role," said Fabini, who turns 34 on Aug. 25. "Last year, I didn't know if I was going to make the team. A lot of teams wrote me off and said I was done. I knew I wasn't. Playing guard kind of just happened and it worked out. Now it's like second nature. I love guard. I hope it extends my career."

The 24-year-old Heyer's career, of course, is just beginning.

"I'm more confident in what I'm doing than I was last year," said Heyer, who started all last preseason for injured left tackle Chris Samuels and was expected to do the same in the 2008 preseason opener on Aug. 4 against Indianapolis since the five-time Pro Bowl pick has just begun to take contact again after elbow surgery in June. "I feel like I've gotten a lot better technique-wise and I'm seeing things a lot faster."

CAMP CALENDAR: The Redskins will end two-a-days on Aug. 14.

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