ASHBURN -- The first rule for young players in training camp reared its ugly head today.

The rule is: Don't get hurt.

Washington Redskins offensive lineman Kerry Brown, a rookie from Appalachian State, sprained his shoulder last week. He was expected to be out one-to-two weeks. The Redskins released him.

J.T. Mapu had been released by the Redskins before training camp began. He was re-signed when defensive end Phillip Daniels suffered a season-ending knee injury a week ago.

Mapu suffered a sprained knee. He was released.

The Redskins signed defensive tackle Zarnell Fitch to fill Mapu's roster spot and offensive lineman Fred Matua to take Brown's spot on the roster.

Fitch, 6-3 320, played in two games for Baltimore last season and spent 13 weeks on the Ravens practice squad. Matua, 6-2 210, was on Cleveland's roster for 10 games in 2006. He did not play last season.

Brown and Mapu were unlucky to get hurt. When you are a marginal player, and teams are limited to 80 players in training camp, they do not wait for you to recover.

Teams need bodies for practice, and they will not ask starters to take more snaps in practice and become exposed to the risk of an injury. -- Paul Woody