ndle it.Rose also reiterated that he feels he is innoce

ASHBURN, Va. -- Last year Martrell Spaight was so sensitive to light that he darkened his sunglasses with a black marker.He is set to make his first NFL start for the Washington Redskins under the Monday night spotlight against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. After missing his entire rookie season with concussion problems, Spaight earned the trust of the coaching staff to fill in for Will Compton at middle linebacker.Hes a young football player still with limited starting reps, but this is a great opportunity for him, coach Jay Gruden said Thursday. He hasnt had that opportunity other than preseason and a little bit here and there, so Im excited to see him. I love his energy. I like the way he hits, he hustles and hes good in pass defense.Spaight just being on the field is an accomplishment. A fifth-round pick out of Arkansas in 2015, he tried to play through concussion symptoms before Washington placed him on injured reserve and he went to great lengths to get back to normal.When he couldnt find dark enough sunglasses, Spaight grabbed a sharpie and darkened them so he could go about his rehab. In his bleakest moments of reflection, including the return of symptoms in September, he wondered if this whole football thing was going to work out after all.It was very difficult for me mentally because you work so hard and after a while you start questioning yourself, `Is it meant for me to play this game? Spaight recalled Friday.The 23-year-old got his answer last week at Philadelphia when he heard a coach yell out, Spaight, get your helmet. A knee injury to Compton forced Spaight into the starting middle linebacker role, headset and all, as the captain of the defense, and Gruden was impressed with how he handled those duties.So impressed that theyre all his Monday against Carolina.We like his athletic ability, Gruden said. Mentally, is he as far along as where Comp is? Well see, but he didnt have any trouble communicating the calls, so I feel very confident in Spaight. I think hes a good linebacker. Hes tough, hes physical, and weve just got to make sure health-wise he gets to where he can be productive.Spaight has been nursing a shoulder injury himself, but the adrenaline that has him struggling to stay calm now could help him get ready for the Panthers. Spaight has felt his game make a heck of a jump from a year ago, and hes performing beyond his 12 games of mostly special teams pro experience.Recognizing that hes still effectively a rookie, defensive coordinator Joe Barry, a former linebackers coach, still sees the linebacker intuition in Spaight.Its hard to teach instincts, its hard to teach awareness, Barry said. You can teach a guy how to key better, use his eyes, use his hands, use his feet, break on the ball better, take on blocks. You can coach and teach those things. You cant teach instincts. You cant teach awareness and thats always the toughest thing to evaluate because you really never know if a guy has those instincts and awareness until youre truly around him.Being around Spaight is enough to make Compton confident in his understudy. Working under Compton is one reason for Grudens faith in Spaight, but his game preparation is on another level, too.Hes always very adamant and humble in his approach to preparing for a game, Compton said. I have total faith in him. For him itll just be staying calm, staying focused, just not getting too high in the moment and just playing his game because when he plays he can play.After burying his own doubts about his future, Spaight will get the chance to play against a former league MVP in front of a national audience at the center of the defense.Just seeing that everythings better than it was, it just opened my eyes and showed that Im meant to play this game and I feel like this is my calling, Spaight said. Im anxious to go out there and show the world what I can get done.Game notesAlong with Compton, rookie linebacker Sua Cravens didnt practice Friday because of an upper-arm/elbow injury. ... Tight end Jordan Reed is progressing from a sprained left shoulder that has limited him. Reed participated in one-on-one drills Friday. ... Left guard Shawn Lauvao (groin) and center Spencer Long (concussion) practiced and could be available to face the Panthers. If they play, Washington would have its entire starting offensive line for the first time since October.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLZaDarius Smith Super Bowl Jersey . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Billy Turner Super Bowl Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Preston-Smith-Packers-Jersey/ . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Oren Burks Super Bowl Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Jason Spriggs Super Bowl Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season.The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed it continues to investigate a complaint filed against New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose?but said there is no timetable on if or when the case will be closed.A woman filed a civil sexual assault case against Rose on Aug. 26, 2015, saying Rose and two friends raped her. The suit accused Rose and his friends of slipping a drug into her drink before committing sexual acts against her will.Detective Nadine Hernandez said the investigation into the criminal complaint has been ongoing for less than a year, but that the exact date of when the complaint was filed with the LAPD is under seal. She said Rose has not been interviewed, though an offer is on the table for him to speak, adding there is no timetable to conclude the investigation.We have to let the investigation go where it takes us, Hernandez said.Speaking at Knicks media day Monday, Rose said he had not been aware of the LAPD investigation. He also said he could miss time with the team during the civil case, which is scheduled to start Oct. 4 in Los Angeles.?The Knicks open their preseason schedule on the same day, on the road against the Houston Rockets.Im not worried about it, but if I do have to miss time its a part of it, Rose said. Of course, I dont want to be in this position, but it is what it is.dddddddddddd. Im going to let my lawyers handle that, let my team handle it.Rose also reiterated that he feels he is innocent of the lawsuits allegations.I feel like I didnt do anything wrong. I cant let that distract me with the year that I have ahead of me, Rose said.In July, a federal judge denied Roses motion to dismiss the case.Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ruled that the womans identity would not be protected in the case. ESPN does not routinely release the names of sexual assault accusers and has not done so in this case.Rose said recent media coverage of the civil case hasnt been a distraction.I really havent been thinking about it. Im thinking about the team more than anything, like how to jell with the team, getting used to the players, just getting used to the organization, the GM, president, Phil [Jackson], Steve [Mills] and all, just getting used to them, Rose said. As far as the trial, thats something I cant think about because its not true, I will be proven innocent.ESPN Knicks reporter Ian Begley contributed to this report ' ' '