Tim Hightower has spent the past 10 months attempting to comeback from a torn ACL and hopes to be considered for the Redskins' starting running back job.

Hightower first went through 11-on-11 drills while running the scout team on Aug. 16 and did so again on Monday. His first practice with pads came on Wednesday.

“Well, he’s made some strides, but it’s really hard to tell until he goes full-speed,” Mike Shanahan said on Wednesday. “Once you put the pads on, it’s different than going in shorts. I think tomorrow will be a good indication on how he feels. It’s the first day he’s actually had contact around our first, second, third team offense and ran our plays.”

Hightower started five games for Washington last season and is competing with Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster and Alfred Morris for carries.

Helu is the expected starter but is sidelined by tendinitis in both Achilles' tendons.