-- The Redskins signed linebacker Alfred Fincher on July 30 and waived/injured running back Eric Shelton. Fincher has played 24 career games for the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions. Shelton injured a shoulder and his neck during the July 26 intrasquad scrimmage.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK

In 2006, the Redskins drafted defensive tackles Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively, in hopes that they would one day become starters. Mission accomplished on that front since Golston supplanted veteran Joe Salave'a early in that season and Montgomery beat out Golston last summer.

While the massive 6-6, 315-pound Montgomery has been running first-team at right tackle this year, too, the broken right hand he suffered in the July 26 intrasquad scrimmage has kicked wide open a door that the squattier 6-4, 320-pound Golston had already unlocked.

"That position, no one owns that," defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. "That's a position that's definitely going to be won week to week, day-to-day. That's been a heated competition since the start of OTAs. They both bring certain strengths to the table. It's just matter of who's got the hot hand at a given time. This is a 'What have you done for me lately' business and a guy that gets a little fat, thinks for a second, 'That's my job,' they're mistaken."

In fact, Blache, then the defensive line coach, said that since Golston played so well in the playoff loss at Seattle that he would have started the next week if the Redskins had won. And Blache said that knowledge prodded Montgomery during the offseason.

"When Monty woke up in the morning, if he (wanted) to roll over and hit the snooze button and not come to work, he'd have to worry about seeing Kedric's face," Blache said. "I think a lot of times, he turned the snooze button off and came in because he knew Kedric's ghost was right there over his shoulder waiting for him."

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS:

-- The absence of holdover DE Chris Wilson (calf) and former Viking Erasmus James (knee) has given former Raider and Falcon Kevin Huntley and seventh-rounder Rob Jackson plenty of work in hopes of somehow forcing themselves onto a roster where starters Andre Carter and Jason Taylor and backup Demetric Evans are locks.

-- With Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot both having seen time at safety because of LaRon Landry'a absence, 2007 practice squad member Byron Westbrook, NFL Europa veteran Cedric Holt, fourth-rounder J.T. Tryon and rookie free agent Matteral Richardson have been getting extra reps at corner along with veterans Carlos Rogers and Leigh Torrence.

-- FS LaRon Landry's pulled hamstring has given former Raider FS Stuart Schweigert, holdover Vernon Fox, sixth-rounder Kareem Moore and seventh-rounder Chris Horton more chances to show what they can do in hopes of locking down jobs behind Landry and SS Reed Doughty.

-- With rookie WR Devin Thomas and youngster Anthony Mix out with pulled hamstrings, veteran Billy McMullen has been making the most of his extra reps in his longshot battle to win a job behind holdovers Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El and James Thrash and second-round picks Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. The well-traveled Maurice Mann (six teams, five years, one game), 2007 practice squad member Burl Toler and rookie free agent Horace Gant are also in the mix.

ROOKIE REPORT: Second-round WR Devin Thomas pulled a hamstring on July 24 and is day-to-day. ... Second-round TE Fred Davis had a better second week than first week of camp. ... Second-round WR Malcolm Kelly returned last week after missing a few days with a pulled hamstring. ... Third-round OL Chad Rinehart has made a good impression working behind starting LG Pete Kendall. ... Fourth-round CB J.T. Tryon took a step back after a strong first week of camp. ... Sixth-round P Durant Brooks is battling incumbent Derrick Frost for the job. ... Sixth-round QB Colt Brennan had a better second week than first week. He needs plenty of work on his mechanics. ... Sixth-round S Kareem Moore returned last week after missing a week with a swollen knee. ... Seventh-round DE Rob Jackson has seen extra snaps following an injury to holdover DE Chris Wilson. ... Seventh-round S Chris Horton has flashed the hitting ability that made him a starter at UCLA.

INJURY REPORT: DT Anthony Montgomery broke his right hand in the July 26 scrimmage. He had surgery on July 28 and will be out another week. ... LB Rian Wallace broke his right hand in the scrimmage. He had surgery on July 28 and will be out another week. ... RB Ladell Betts is day-to-day with a bruised thigh. ... WR Anthony Mix is day-to-day after aggravating a hamstring in the July 26 scrimmage. ... WR Devin Thomas pulled a hamstring on July 24 and is day-to-day. ... FS LaRon Landry slightly pulled a hamstring on July 25 and is day-to-day. ... DE Chris Wilson strained a calf muscle on July 24 and is day-to-day. ... DE Erasmus James has yet to practice as he recovers from reconstructive knee surgery.