Tag: 2021 NFL training camp

Ron Rivera details what he’s looking for in preseason opener against Patriots

Ron Rivera wants to see specific things from Ryan Fitzpatrick in his Washington debut on Thursday.

When Washington head coach Ron Rivera was the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, he knew what he had at quarterback. Cam Newton came to Carolina at the same as Rivera in 2011, and the two were joined at the hip for the next decade.

In his second year with Washington, Rivera will be facing Newton and the New England Patriots in the preseason opener on Thursday.

Starting at quarterback for the Football Team is veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. This will be Rivera’s first game with Fitzpatrick as his quarterback.

So, what is the head the coach looking for from his quarterback in his first preseason action?

“Is he going through the checks, the processes he needs to?” Rivera said Tuesday, per Sam Fortier of The Washington Post.

“When I’m done, I’m going to take a look and see what the playbook tells us, whether or not we spread the ball around properly and we used all of our assets out there.”

Essentially, what Rivera wants to see is Fitzpatrick’s command of the offense. He doesn’t expect Fitzpatrick to be perfect immediately but handle the basics of the offense in his first start.

A trip to New England is a good test for Washington’s retooled offense.

Curtis Samuel activated from COVID-19 list, placed on active/PUP list

Curtis Samuel has yet to practice in training camp.

The Washington Football Team activated wide receiver Curtis Samuel from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. He was then placed on the active/physically unable to perform list.

When Samuel was spotted at practice on Sunday, it was clear he was close to being activated from the COVID-19 list. However, after practice, head coach Ron Rivera noted that there was still “no timetable” for Samuel’s return from a groin injury.

Samuel originally injured his groin back on June 1 in OTAs and missed the mandatory minicamp. He has yet to practice in training camp with his new team.

Rivera stressed on Sunday he wasn’t concerned with Samuel missing time due to his familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s offense. Washington also has more depth at wide receiver this season, so rushing Samuel back is not something the team plans on doing.

Samuel had a career year in 2020 when he caught 77 passes for 851 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 200 yards and two scores for the Carolina Panthers.

 

Washington releases unofficial depth chart ahead of preseason Week 1

Here is Washington’s depth chart with our observations on the offense, defense and special teams.

The Washington Football Team kicks off the 2021 preseason on Thursday against the New England Patriots. With the preseason here, that means we finally get an updated depth chart from the team.

It’s important to note; this depth chart does not come from the coaching staff, meaning it is unofficial. The depth chart comes from the team’s PR staff, so it does not necessarily reflect what head coach Ron Rivera or his staff think.

You’ll see more depth charts throughout the preseason that reflect the latest roster moves, but for now, let’s take a look at the WFT’s first unofficial depth chart of 2021.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Ron Rivera has some fun at the end of his Sunday press conference

Ron Rivera had some fun with Jason Garrett’s exchange with the media last week.

When Washington head coach Ron Rivera ended his daily presser after Sunday’s practice, local reporters ended it like they normally do, thanking the head coach for his time.

“Thank you, Ron,” reporters said.

On a normal day, that would be the end. Not on Sunday.

Rivera responded: “Oh, it’s coach,” he said smiling. Rivera then walked off with a wink and said, “just kidding.”

Rivera was having some fun at the expense of New York Giants offensive coordinator — and former Dallas head coach — Jason Garrett, who, last week, had the following exchange with reporters.

The video received more press than it likely should have. Garrett was departing to a quiet room of reporters and said, “Yeah, we say good to see you, Coach.”

He never actually directly told reporters to call him coach. Anyhow, it received plenty of attention and, on Sunday, Rivera had a little fun with it.

 

Washington injury, absence updates from day 10 of training camp

Injury news and notes from Sunday’s practice in Ashburn.

The Washington Football Team was back at practice on Sunday in Ashburn after a day off on Saturday. Of course, not everyone was on the field in pads.

Quarterback Kyle Allen remains sidelined with an ankle injury. He’s been out of practice for a week now. If Allen continues to miss time, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he began the season on injured reserve.

Defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis did not practice. Head coach Ron Rivera said he wasn’t feeling well, and it was nothing serious. Rivera also noted it had nothing to do with COVID-19. Ioannidis was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list last week.

Wide receiver Curtis Samuel was seen on the field but did not practice. Samuel, who has dealt with a groin injury since before minicamp in June, remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Rookie defensive end Shaka Toney did not practice and worked off to the side with trainers.

The Football Team did receive some good news on the injury front as cornerback William Jackson III, tight end Sammis Reyes, left tackle Charles Leno, wide receiver Kelvin Harmon and offensive lineman Keith Ismael were all back.

Ron Rivera says ‘no timetable’ on Curtis Samuel’s return

Curtis Samuel was seen on the field Sunday — but remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Ron Rivera offered an update on Samuel.

The Washington Football Team resumed practice on Sunday, and wide receiver Curtis Samuel was on the field. No, Samuel didn’t participate in practice, and he remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but perhaps it is a step in the right direction.

After practice, head coach Ron Rivera said there is no timetable for Samuel’s return to full practice, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

There’s no timetable for Curtis. He’s been in the system, he knows it. Yeah, you’d love him to catch a few reps maybe in the last preseason game, but we’re not going to rush him out there. He’s coming back, he’ll be healthy, he’ll be ready to roll. But we’re going to ease him back into it because, again, he knows the system, he’ll pick it up again very, very quickly, and it’ll really be about him building a rapport with the quarterbacks.

In an ideal world, Samuel would be on the field soon. Washington fans will be nervous about Samuel because too many times in the past an injury, not deemed to be serious, has lingered into the season.

But Rivera is right. Samuel has been in this system and has also worked with Terry McLaurin on the playbook. So, in this instance, you just don’t rush your top offseason acquisition, especially now that there is some depth at wide receiver.

The team is clearly hoping Samuel is ready for Week 1.

WATCH: Rookie receiver Dax Milne makes big-time catch

Watch Dax Milne make an impressive catch during Friday’s practice at FedEx Field.

One of the biggest questions facing Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera is how many wide receivers will he carry on the season-opening 53-man roster?

Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown are locks. Cam Sims and Adam Humphries are close to certainties. That leaves one like spot open for Washington, and that player will most likely double as the team’s punt returner.

Steven Sims Jr. and DeAndre Carter have been locked in a tight battle for a spot on Washington’s roster throughout the first week of training camp. Both players have been outstanding in camp thus far, meaning Rivera and his staff are going to have to make some tough decisions.

One player who is not receiving much attention is rookie seventh-round pick, Dax Milne. Milne did his best to get on the coaches’ radar in Washington’s open practice on Friday at FedEx Field in front of 20,000 fans.

The rookie beat coverage and hauled in a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick down near the goal line in drills. It was impressive.

Of course, this doesn’t help Milne make the team. It’s one play — in one-on-one drills. However, it gave WFT fans something to cheer for and showed them that Milne has some skills.

Where does Bleacher Report rank Washington among most improved teams?

Bleacher Report ranks Washington as one of the NFL’s most improved team for 2021.

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It was a big offseason for the Washington Football Team. Coming off an NFC East championship, Washington looked to get better in 2021 after winning just seven games last season.

Those improvements began at quarterback.

Washington signed Ryan Fitzpatrick early in free agency to a one-year deal to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2021. The Football Team also re-signed playoff hero Taylor Heinicke to a two-year extension.

There were also new additions at wide receiver. Washington brought in Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries through free agency and Dyami Brown via the NFL draft.

Naturally, at least on paper, you’d think Washington is a lot better in 2021.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently ranked the seven most improved teams for 2021, and he was Washington at No. 4.

Notable Additions: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Curtis Samuel, WR Dyami Brown, CB William Jackson III, OT Charles Leno Jr., LB Jamin Davis

The Washington Football Team had just seven victories in 2020, but it did win the NFC East. An improved passing attack—Washington ranked 25th in passing yards last season—could be enough to make the Football Team a formidable playoff force.

And Washington should have a vastly improved passing offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick has never established himself as a franchise quarterback, but he’s a quality journeyman who helped the Miami Dolphins reach 10 wins a year ago.

As a collective, Washington’s quarterbacks averaged 6.3 yards per pass attempt in 2020. Fitzpatrick averaged 7.8 yards per attempt last season and has posted 6.9 yards per pass for his career. He has the proven arm talent needed for the Football Team to better push the ball down the field.

Fitzpatrick will be joined by wideout Curtis Samuel, who played for coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner with the Carolina Panthers. Washington further bolstered its receiving corps by drafting Dyami Brown in the third round.

Defensive additions Jamin Davis and William Jackson III will help a defense that was already elite in 2020. Washington ranked second in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Jackson is a proven starter who allowed an opposing passer rating of only 88.2 last season. Davis is a first-round talent who is impressing in camp.

Washington’s defense could be the league’s best unit this year, and with a more potent offense, the Football Team could be poised to repeat as NFC East champs.

Knox is correct. The addition of Davis and Jackson on defense, paired with so many of Washington’s younger players being more experienced, means the Football Team could challenge for NFC supremacy. Another key on defense is the return of defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis.

But it’s all about the offense. If Washington can move to the middle of the pack in offense, it could be a real contender.

If the offense doesn’t improve, there’s still the NFC East.

 

Steven Sims Jr. is making his case for Washington’s roster

Washington fans shouldn’t count out Steven Sims Jr. just yet.

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It feels like each day of training camp, we talk about a different wide receiver standing out. There is always Terry McLaurin, who stands out every day.

Perhaps the most intriguing battles on Washington’s roster isn’t who will start at quarterback, but which receivers will round out the Football Team’s pass-catching corps?

Enter a familiar name into the equation: Steven Sims Jr.

The former undrafted free agent from Kansas burst onto the scene in 2019. Then-interim coach Bill Callahan said Sims would be Washington’s slot receiver for “a long time.”

Unfortunately for Sims, things didn’t go as planned in 2020 under the Football Team’s new coaching staff.

Sims played in 12 games for Washington last season, recording just 27 receptions for 265 yards and a touchdown. His best performance came in the playoff game against Tampa Bay, where he caught three passes and a touchdown.

Now, Sims is fighting for his future in Washington after a disappointing season.

“This year, we’re wiping all that away,” Sims said about his 2020 season, per Zach Selby of washingtonfootball.com. “It’s a new year moving forward. I worked all offseason focusing on things.”

Sims has shown flashes of the 2019 version of himself throughout training camp, reminding everyone he belongs in the NFL, whether it is in Washington — or somewhere else.

Curtis Samuel being sidelined in the first week of camp has been a blessing for Sims, and he’s taking advantage of every opportunity.

“I’ve been taking it back to the basics,” Sims said. “Just trying to make this roster, whether it’s the sixth man in the receiving room or the fourth man. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter to me.”

What would help Sims in his quest to make the roster is special teams. Sims can return punts, but he struggled there a year ago. If he can have a strong summer returning punts, both in practice and in the preseason, it could go a long way in helping his case.

For Sims, this preseason is a lot like 2019, when a strong summer helped push his way onto the roster.

Can he do it again in 2021?

 

Sam Cosmi feels he is getting better every day

Thanks to competing against Chase Young and Montez Sweat each day, rookie offensive tackle Sam Cosmi is getting better.

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In the early stages of training camp, Washington defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young had their way with rookie offensive tackle Sam Cosmi.

Young would later say the only way he could help Cosmi get better was to bring his best on every play.

While Young and Sweat have done their part, Cosmi is beginning to turn a corner in his development. On Tuesday, head coach Ron Rivera said that he felt Cosmi was holding up well against Washington’s outstanding pass-rushers.

Cosmi had another good day of practice on Wednesday, and afterward, he spoke to the media.

“I’ve definitely seen progression in my own skill and development as camp has progressed,” Cosmi said, per Zach Selby of washingtonfootball.com. “I’m really happy where I’m going.”

Cornelius Lucas is back at practice this week after his activation from the reserve/COVID-19 list, but Cosmi remains with the first team at right tackle.

Washington likely knows what it has in Lucas. The team wants to see Cosmi against the best. Because Cosmi is currently still running with the ones means little until later in training camp.

The next challenge for Cosmi is preseason games. Of course, going up against Young and Sweat daily is the best test any rookie could face.

Seeing Cosmi’s development in the early stages of training camp has been one of the better storylines of Washington’s summer.