Washington Redskins NFL 2015 news: DeSean Jackson sidelined three to four weeks with hamstring injury

Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison

The Washington Redskins will continue their 2015 regular season without wide receiver DeSean Jackson for a few weeks after he suffered a hamstring strain in their season opener Sunday. 

Jackson injured his hamstring in their Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins which they lost 17–10. 

In the first quarter, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins overthrew to a speeding Jackson who stretched in his attempt to catch the football but was unable to. 

After the failed attempt, the three-time Pro Bowler held on to his left leg and limped as he headed to the Redskins bench where he was attended to by trainers. 

Following the game against the Dolphins, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said Jackson would have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and he went through it last Monday. 

Gruden confirmed Monday that Jackson will be out for three to four weeks but there is a possibility that he would return earlier than expected. 

"He's one of our stars. You hate to lose a star, especially with his speed. We feel good about the receivers that will take his place, but nobody can substitute him for that burning speed that gets downfield and scares safeties and corners to death," Gruden said, according to the Associated Press. 

The recent injury is another terrible setback for Jackson who is just making his way back after missing the entire preseason because of a shoulder injury. 

Wide receiver Ryan Grant replaced Jackson for three-receiver sets during Sunday's game but, according to ESPN, he lacked speed. 

Losing Jackson is a tough blow for the Redskins who are trying to bounce back after going 4–12 last season, which made them miss the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Redskins will not have an easier task when they play in Week 2 because they are up against the St. Louis Rams, who stunned last season's runners-up the Seattle Seahawks in their opener.