Ron Rivera misses first practice due to cancer treatment

Ron Rivera had his first treatment for lymph node cancer on Tuesday, and the team is led by DC Jack Del Rio in his absence.

Ever since Washington head coach Ron Rivera announced that he had squamous cell carcinoma, a ‘very treatable and curable’ form of lymph node cancer, we knew that it would at some point have an effect on his ability to coach the team.

The first we’re seeing of that came on Tuesday, with Rivera missing the early portion of practice, at the very least, due to his first treatment for the cancer. In his place, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is stepping up as the head coach, as was planned, and running the team through their first game-week prep of the new season.

This is not a new role for Del Rio, as The Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala noted. Back in 2013, Del Rio played a similar role with the Denver Broncos when HC John Fox underwent heart surgery and was forced to miss four weeks of the years.

All of this is according to the plan that Rivera and his team set upon knowledge of the diagnosis, but it’s now officially in effect. All the best to Coach Rivera as he tackles this treatment head-on.

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