ASHBURN, Va. -- The feeling in his chest made it tough to breathe, so
Washington Redskins rookie corner
Bashaud Breeland had to bench himself for a play. The combination of cold weather and running and the excitement of a game proved too much.
That’s what happened to Breeland three times against the
New York Giants. He was forced out of the game so he could use an inhaler to help with a breathing issue. Breeland said it was bronchitis and added that his family has a history of bronchitis as well as asthma.“When it gets colder and I’m running, it’s like mucus is building up in my chest and it’s hard to expand in the shoulder pads,” he said. “So I get short of breath. It put me on a little attack, and that sometimes happens when I get excited.”
But it’s only happened in one other game this season, which happened to be his best: The Oct. 27 win at Dallas. In that game, Breeland did not have anything on the sideline, but there was something for him to use in the locker room.
Last week, he had issues all week leading into the game, so they had an inhaler for him on the sidelines.
“It’s not that bad,” Breeland said. “It just that when it happens I have to come out, take a breather and go back in. It doesn’t bother me all the time.”
Breeland said it never happened to him at Clemson -- nor has it been an issue this week during practice. Redskins coach Jay Gruden said now that they know what the issue is -- they weren’t quite sure initially at Dallas -- they can be more prepared.