Reed Doughty could return as a backup with Redskins SS Brandon Meriweather expected to return Sunday after suffering a knee injury earlier this year. (US Presswire)

Strong safety Brandon Meriweather is optimistic about his chances of playing Sunday for the first time this season. Meriweather missed the first three games because of a knee injury, then he hurt it again during warmups before a Week 4 meeting at Tampa Bay.The Redskins could use his talent at strong safety as the entire secondary has had issues this season. 

Meriweather offers more speed, but it's uncertain how he'll do considering he hasn't played since the preseason. Reed Doughty, a career backup, has started at strong safety in his place. While Meriweather should be an upgrade, it won't solve all their ills in the secondary as the other three starters have struggled as well. The pass rush, or lack of one, hasn't helped, either.

Meanwhile, RT Jammal Brown, activated from the physically unable to perform list last week, practiced for the first time this season. The Redskins have two weeks to activate him, place him on injured reserve or release him. Brown said it's not realistic to expect he could play this week. But he was optimistic -- as he usually is about his surgically-repaired hip. Brown had a torn ligament in his hip that had become lodged, causing discomfort. He also had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip in 2009 with New Orleans.

“I feel a lot looser, I can bend a lot more,” he said. “I’m eager to see after a week or so how it feels, but I feel good. It was a great day for me.”

John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner. Follow him on Twitter @CBSRedskins or@John_Keim.