Ron Rivera praises rookie wide receiver Dax Milne

Rookie wide receiver Dax Milne is quietly having a strong training camp. Could he force his way onto Washington’s 53-man roster?

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The Washington Football Team will have some tough decisions to make at wide receiver in two weeks when NFL teams trim their rosters to 53 players. Washington already made one move, releasing former sixth-round pick Kelvin Harmon on Sunday.

Washington has several wide receiver spots locked in. Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries, Dyami Brown, and, most likely, Cam Sims are on the 53-man roster.

That means there are only one, possibly two, spots remaining. Whoever gets that final spot — or spots — will also need to make an impact on special teams.

Steven Sims Jr. and DeAndre Carter have taken turns impressing coaches both at receiver and punt returner for much of camp. Carter did an outstanding job returning punts in the preseason opener last week.

But one name is often left out in the race at wide receiver, and that is rookie seventh-rounder Dax Milne.

Milne has quietly had a strong training camp and was impressive in the preseason opener. He caught two passes for 16 yards and also had a solid punt return.

On Tuesday, head coach Ron Rivera praised Milne, per Zach Selby of washingtonfootball.com.

“He has progressed very well. He really has,” Rivera said. “You see his natural route running ability showing in certain situations, circumstances.”

Often during camp, Milne has been matched up with a fellow rookie, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. St-Juste has been the talk of camp, but Milne more than held his own against St-Juste, even winning some one-on-one battles.

Rivera noted he was a lot bigger and stronger than he initially thought.

“He is a good route runner with good size. To me, that is a pleasant surprise,” Rivera said. “For a guy that plays the slot, you usually have a smaller guy. This guy had a little more size, and he looked good out there on the football field.”

Rivera also praised Milne after Thursday’s preseason opener at New England.

Milne needs to finish the preseason on a strong note. He still has a long battle in front of him, but it’s clear he has the attention of the most important decision-maker in Washington’s organization.

 

 

 

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow will not play Friday against Washington

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow will not play on Friday at Washington.

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The last time Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow came to FedEx Field to play the Washington Football Team, his season ended.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in a November game at Washington. He would finish his rookie season completing 65% of his passes for 2,688 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Bengals return to Washington on Friday night for Week 2 of the preseason, but Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said Burrow would not be on the field, per Ben Baby of ESPN.

Taylor said last week he was not ruling out Burrow for preseason action. Burrow himself would like to see some action before Week 1.

It remains to be seen if Burrow will play in Week 3 of the preseason against the Miami Dolphins. The third preseason game is generally each NFL team’s final dress rehearsal before the regular season.

Cincinnati and Washington will kick off at 8 p.m. ET at FedEx Field.

Panthers QB P.J. Walker’s preseason TD pass wasn’t supposed to happen

Panthers backup quarterback P.J. Walker threw a nice touchdown pass on a play that wasn’t even supposed to happen.

Panthers backup quarterback P.J. Walker has had quite the pro football journey. The Colts signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017 out of Temple, and he bounced off and back on the practice squad until he was released in 2019. A good word from Andrew Luck to Luck’s father Oliver, Commissioner of the reborn XFL, had the Houston Roughnecks signing Walker in time for the 2020 season. Walker led the XFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns before COVID shut the league down in March, 2020. The Panthers took a flyer on Walker with a new contract — a move that would reunite him with head coach Matt Rhule, Walker’s head coach at Temple from 2013 through 2016.

In his 2021 preseason debut, Walker showed both good and bad. While he forced a couple throws he probably shouldn’t have made, he also showed a nice ability to improvise and make big plays outside the pocket to evade pressure. There was the 60-yard throw to receiver Terrace Marshall, but for the purposes of this story, let’s focus on Walker’s touchdown pass to tight end Tommy Tremble with 1:56 left in the first half.

A nice Mahomes-esque dart to his target after rolling out of pressure. No doubt about that. But in the structure of the drive, that play was not supposed to happen.

According to Rhule, Walker wasn’t supposed to snap the ball at all — the idea was to try and draw the Colts’ defense offside.

“I heard a whole bunch of things in my headset, and I heard him yelling from the sideline,” Walker said of Rhule.

Once the play was run, receiver Omar Bayless was supposed to be Walker’s target, but Walker saw Tremble as the guy who would get him six points.

“It worked,” Walker recalled. “I saw Omar’s guy stopped covering him, and once he broke in, I saw Tommy running full speed across the field, and he was the one who happened to get hit in the chest with the ball.”

Sometimes, coaches have to accept that their players will do things they did not expect. Hopefully, those instances will bring positive results. If this play isn’t in the Panthers’ playbook, perhaps it should be.

Secret superstars of the preseason: Week 1

P.J. Walker. Rhamondre Stevenson. Alton Robinson. DeAndre Houston-Carson. Here are the Secret Superstars of Week 1 of the 2021 NFL preseason.

If you want to build a championship team at the NFL level, you’d best have your entire roster together. Because more often than not, it’s the bottom third of your roster that saves you in the dog days of the season. It’s the little-known special teams guy who forces two return fumbles in December. It’s the fifth cornerback who can play safety in big nickel who will come up with a key interception to help sew up a division title. It’s the swing tackle who replaces the injured starter and keeps your quarterback safe for three straight games when things could go the other way.

Coaches and executives look at the preseason as a buffet line for these types of players — the guys who, based on their preseason performances, prove that they’re ready to help out by any means necessary.

Now that the first week of the 2021 preseason is in the books, here are the Secret Superstars who might be on their ways to unexpected roster spots… or perhaps even starting spots.

Tim Tebow blasted for lackluster preseason debut with Jags

With the Jags set to make some roster cuts on Tuesday, Tim Tebow certainly didn’t have the type of Week 1 preseason performance many were hoping for.

For probably the first time in the team’s history, many fans in the football community were eager to see the Jacksonville Jaguars take the field for their first preseason game as Trevor Lawrence was set to make his NFL debut. However, the former Clemson star wasn’t the only player the world was tuned in to see as Saturday’s game also marked the return of Tim Tebow to the NFL — but this time as a tight end.

Unfortunately, those who wanted to see a positive highlight from Tebow got quite the opposite as the former Florida Gator has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. On a second-down play with 28 seconds remaining in the game, Tebow made a bad slide block attempt on defensive end Curtis Weaver, and as a result, he was left spinning like a propeller in addition to being the butt of many preseason jokes.

For those who haven’t seen it, check it out below.

The block was one where Tebow was supposed to help pave a lane for running back Dare Ogunbowale, but that didn’t exactly happen. Still, despite the lack of major contact he was able to get on Weaver, Ogunbowale was able to bounce the play to the outside, but it looks like the play could’ve gone way worse than it did.

Tebow took the field for 16 snaps Saturday and didn’t register a catch as a receiver. He had an opportunity to snag one catch, but receiver Tavon Austin stepped in from of him for the reception and advanced it up the field.

With the Jags having to cut their roster down to 85 by Tuesday, Aug. 17, this was probably not the performance Tebow was hoping for to stick around. Ultimately, time will tell if he will make it to see the next preseason game, which will need to come with a better performance.

Baker Mayfield gets well-earned rest vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars

Former Oklahoma Sooners Quarterback Baker Mayfield won’t play vs the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 of the preseason

The NFL preseason is about as meaningful as a team scrimmage to front-line starters in the NFL. That’s no different for a player such as Baker Mayfield, who has cemented his status as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Not only is he the present for an organization that just had its deepest run to the playoffs in years, but he’s the long-term answer as the Browns enter 2021, looking to build off last year’s success.

As the Browns prepare for the start of the NFL regular season, Mayfield will not play in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. As Jared Mueller of the Browns Wire notes, this is a situation Mayfield has earned.

For Mayfield, injury has nothing to do with this decision. Instead, Mayfield is getting the respect many quality quarterbacks have gotten in recent years. After a very good 2020 season under (Kevin) Stefanski, including a great second half to the season, the Browns are showing their belief in the former Heisman Trophy winner.

It is also a sign of Mayfield’s development in Year 2 of an offense. For the first time in his professional career, he can build upon what he did last season. Camp Baker gave him a chance to lead the returning veterans in getting prepared for minicamp, and it showed as the offense has been mostly sharp so far. – Mueller

Mayfield had a really nice rookie season before struggling a bit in his second year. In 2020, though, under the leadership of Stefanski, the first-year head coach, Mayfield had a career year and the Browns went to the divisional round of the playoffs.

The preseason can provide reps for players looking to make the team or become more proficient with their coaches’ schemes. Preseason games also bring about risk as players can get injured in a meaningless game such as Neville Gallimore Friday night in the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Stefanski’s showing confidence in his franchise quarterback by letting him sit on the sidelines in Game 1 of the preseason.

What is an acceptable level to judge David Culley in the Texans’ first preseason game?

Houston Texans coach David Culley will see his first NFL action as the boss on the sidelines. What is the proper way to evaluate his efforts?

David Culley is finally going to get his shot.

Albeit the shot will come during the Houston Texans’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, but it will nevertheless be the first time that Culley can show the world what an NFL team plays like under his command.

To this point, Culley has been the happy, consistent face of a rebuilding franchise. Even though he isn’t working with Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, or even DeAndre Hopkins, luxuries that Bill O’Brien had to work with since 2017 with just one playoff win to show, Culley is constantly enthused to come to work.

For Houston sports fans who feel yet again toyed with by the Texans, Culley has been too lovable to despise. In fact, he is easy to root for.

The whole façade gets tested in Green Bay.

Every pre-snap penalty or special teams goof will be on display for Texans fans who maybe haven’t dug deep into the reports coming out of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. When Tyrod Taylor drops back and gets sacked on the opening drive, it will be a preview of what Houston fans may have to get used to for 17 regular season games.

According to general manager Nick Caserio, the team is looking at keeping as many good players around as possible, no matter their spot on the depth chart.

“You have to figure out what makes sense,” Caserio told Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on July 28. “Do we cut this guy and try to put him on the practice squad? Okay, we’re not sure we can get him there. Those are some of the things that will go into the psychology as we get a little bit closer. But you’re really looking at that group in totality because at any point those players could be active on Sunday, at least that’s how we’re approaching it.”

How the Texans play in the first quarter when a majority of the starters and role players are in the game will tell the tale. If they have negative plays, can’t move the ball, sustain penalties, have communication issues, that will be problematic for the season. If such issues occur later in the game with players who will be on practice squads this fall, that isn’t necessarily a coaching issue, no matter who is on the sidelines.

Washington offensive tackle Sam Cosmi had a strong NFL debut

Washington rookie Sam Cosmi is going to be difficult to unseat at right tackle.

When the Washington Football Team selected Texas offensive tackle Sam Cosmi in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, many believed he would be slated to compete at left tackle with veteran Cornelius Lucas in 2021.

Things changed quickly in May when the Chicago Bears cut former Pro Bowl left tackle Charles Leno. Washington quickly signed Leno. Then shortly thereafter, the Football Team surprisingly released longtime starting right tackle Morgan Moses.

So, instead of a Lucas/Cosmi battle at left tackle in 2021, we were given a Lucas/Cosmi battle at right tackle.

Lucas worked with the first team at right tackle in OTAs and the minicamp. When training camp began, Lucas went on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and Cosmi was suddenly the first-team right tackle.

The early stages of training camp were rough for Cosmi, going against Chase Young and Montez Sweat. However, he continued to improve each day and earned praise from head coach Ron Rivera last week.

In his NFL debut against New England on Thursday night, Cosmi played the first half at right tackle and held up well. Rivera was impressed afterward, commenting on Cosmi’s performance on Friday.

Pro Football Focus was certainly impressed with Cosmi’s performance.

That’s not a bad debut. Cosmi has shown this summer; he gets better the more he plays. At this point, it’s difficult to imagine Lucas overtaking the rookie at right tackle.

But Cosmi doesn’t want anything given to him. He wants to earn the starting position.

“I want to be able to perform and perform at a high level,” Cosmi said. “Being able to have the opportunity is huge, and I know that’s not given; that’s earned. So, I’m going to try to earn that position.”

If Cosmi’s NFL debut was any indication, Washington has its answer at right tackle.

 

Ron Rivera is impressed with rookie running back Jaret Patterson

Ron Rivera was impressed with rookie RB Jaret Patterson and wants to see even more of him.

How many times over the years has a young Washington running back won over fans after a strong preseason?

Fast forward to 2021, and Washington could have its latest preseason hero in undrafted rookie running back, Jaret Patterson. On Thursday, the 5-foot-8, 195-pound Patterson received plenty of playing time in Washington’s preseason debut and led the team in rushing and receiving yards.

Patterson’s numbers didn’t blow anyone away. He carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards. Solid. He also caught four passes for 30 yards, including one impressive catch near the goal line to set up Washington’s first touchdown just before halftime.

But Patterson’s debut performance goes beyond the numbers. He passed the eyeball test. He got first downs. And he did a lot of his damage in the first half before New England played mostly third-stringers.

Patterson is decisive, runs with great vision and is super quick.

Washington coach Ron Rivera met with the media after the game and discussed Patterson.

“Patterson didn’t surprise us. That’s what we saw in the young man,” Rivera said, per Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington. “He had a terrific college career, and he’s had a good camp so far. I think we expected him to do some positive things, so it was good to watch.”

You have to like Patterson’s chances of making Washington’s roster. He’s had an impressive camp, outstanding preseason debut and has the head coach praising him.

Rivera liked Patterson’s performance so much; he wants to get the rookie runner an opportunity on kick returns.

“We want to see Jaret Patterson get a couple of tries as well,” Rivera said.

This makes sense. Patterson’s talents would seemingly make him an ideal kick returner. It could also allow Washington to keep another player from a different position.

Cornerback Danny Johnson is considered the WFT’s top kick returner at the moment, but the team arguably has more impressive corners in camp. If Patterson returns kicks, it could allow the coaches to keep another defensive back it doesn’t want to lose.

It will be fascinating to watch Patterson over Washington’s next two preseason games.

Neville Gallimore suffers elbow injury in Dallas Cowboys preseason game

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Gallimore suffered a hyperextension of his left elbow. 

Heading into his second season with the Dallas Cowboys opportunities abound for defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. The presumed starter at the three-technique defensive tackle spot had little competition for snaps and was expected to make a huge leap after a strong finish to the 2020 season.

His sophomore season may have suffered a setback after suffering an injury early in the Dallas Cowboys preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Gallimore suffered a hyperextension of his left elbow.

According to Ian Rappoport of NFL Network, Gallimore will have an MRI of the elbow on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury. After further evaluation of the injury, a treatment plan and a timeline for return can be developed.

It’s a huge loss for a Dallas Cowboys defense that struggled mightily on defense, in particular the interior defensive line.

For Neville Gallimore, this is an unfortunate setback to what has been a promising training camp.

Update:

Per Ian Rapoport, Neville Gallimore will miss 4-6 weeks. At the long end of the time frame, that would take Gallimore to the last weekend in September, which would be only 2 games missed if there are no setbacks.