Tag: NFL COVID

Washington activates Curl, Fuller and 2 others from COVID list

Kam Curl and Kendall Fuller are among four Washington players activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Washington Football Team continues receiving good news concerning COVID-19. After a disastrous week-and-a-half that saw over 30 players and coaches placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, four more players were activated Friday, including two key members of the secondary.

Cornerback Kendall Fuller, safety Kam Curl, quarterback Kyle Allen and linebacker Milo Eifler were activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list and back on the practice fields Friday.

All four players missed the Week 15 game at Philadelphia. Of the four, Washington really missed Curl. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert had a career day and could’ve had much more if not for two head-scratching dropped passes. If Curl was playing, Goedert doesn’t have that type of success.

The two teams meet again in Week 17.

Fuller’s impact was also felt as Washington allowed Jalen Hurts to have his way. The WFT was without both starting corners, Fuller and William Jackson III, in the second half, leaving Danny Johnson, Corn Elder and Darryl Roberts as the cornerbacks.

It was an unfortunate turn of events for Allen who would’ve started the game with Taylor Heinicke also on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Defensive line coach Sam Mills and running backs coach Randy Jordan also cleared protocols and returned to practice Friday.

Brandon Scherff is among those still on the COVID list.

Taylor Heinicke activated from reserve/COVID-19 list, back at practice

Taylor Heinicke is back.

Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke cleared COVID protocols Thursday and was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list. He returned to practice and should be under center for Washington Sunday in the rematch against the Cowboys.

Heinicke was placed on the COVID list last week after testing positive for the virus. The NFL made some changes to the COVID protocols for vaccinated, asymptomatic players, which Washington hoped would aid in clearing Heinicke and Kyle Allen from the COVID protocols in time for Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Heinicke and Allen remained on the reserve/COVID list, leading newly signed Garrett Gilbert to start for Washington.

Also cleared Thursday were linebacker David Mayo and practice squad tight end Temarrick Hemingway. In a corresponding move, Washington released quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, who was signed last week.

Allen remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Washington must keep Gilbert on the active roster for a minimum of three weeks since he was signed off another team’s [New England] practice squad.

Cole Holcomb placed on reserve/COVID-19 list

Cole Holcomb is Washington’s latest addition to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

One day after a 27-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington added another starter to the reserve/COVID-19 list. On Tuesday, linebacker Cole Holcomb, who rarely misses a snap, was placed on the COVID list.

Under the NFL’s new testing policies, Holcomb could still play Sunday, but he would first have to clear the COVID protocols. Unfortunately for Washington, quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen were unable to clear protocols ahead of Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia.

Holcomb had played 100% of the defensive snaps in every game, except for Week 4, when he left with an injury in the second half. He’s amassed a career-high 120 tackles with three games to go, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one touchdown.

Holcomb would be a significant loss if he can’t go on Sunday against the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, in other Washington-related COVID news, the WFT activated offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas and rookie practice squad DE William Bradley-King from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Heinicke and Allen remain on the COVID list.

Ron Rivera, Terry McLaurin praise quarterback Garrett Gilbert

Ron Rivera, Terry McLaurin praise quarterback Garrett Gilbert after Washington’s loss in Week 15.

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Veteran quarterback Garrett Gilbert had the nearly impossible task of signing with an NFL team last week and being thrust into the starting lineup only days later. The journeyman passer held up well in Washington’s 27-17 loss to the Eagles, completing 20 of 31 passes for 194 with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Sure, those aren’t the gaudy video-game numbers fans are used to seeing in today’s game, but considering the circumstances, Washington couldn’t have asked any more from the 30-year-old Gilbert.

After the game, head coach Ron Rivera spoke about Gilbert and was proud of his effort:

I thought he gave a heck of an effort. He made some good decisions and he delivered some good balls. His timing and rhythm was off a little bit, and it showed when we got in a couple of situations that he just hadn’t had enough reps. He was late a couple of times coming back off of his reads and he hung on his reads a little bit longer, but man he made some plays. He fought and he battled, and when a guy does that, you appreciate that.

Gilbert was off-target on several throws, which was expected in live game action. One issue for Gilbert was the consistent pressure in his face, forcing him to reset, throwing off his mechanics. It led to some high throws.

Count wide receiver Terry McLaurin among the Washington players who appreciated Gilbert’s effort:

“I have nothing but respect for Garrett [Gilbert],” McLaurin said.

“For a guy to come from another practice squad to a team where you don’t know anybody – sure, maybe you’ve been in the offense, but to come here mid-week and be expected to not only start at quarterback but to help us try to get into the playoffs, it’s nothing but respect for him. The way he came in, his energy, you felt that when he got here.”

McLaurin caught two passes for 51 yards, including a 46-yarder in the first quarter.

While you never can predict what happens with COVID-19, you presume this would be Gilbert’s only start for Washington. Heinicke and Allen, or at least one of them, should be back by Sunday.

As for Gilbert, he gave Washington a chance, and that’s all you can hope for.

 

Washington makes multiple moves ahead of Week 15 game vs. Eagles

Washington made multiple roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s game vs. Eagles.

The NFL moved Washington’s Week 15 game against the Eagles to Tuesday after the WFT’s COVID-19 outbreak last week. Washington saw over two dozen players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list, including its top two quarterbacks in Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen.

Now that the deadline has passed and Heinicke and Allen will remain on the COVID-19 list, Washington announced multiple roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Only three Washington’s players were activated from the reserve/COVID list. Washington activated defensive tackle Tim Settle, defensive back Troy Apke and tight end Sammis Reyes, but Reyes is dealing with a concussion and is ruled out for the game.

That means Washington will be without top cornerback Kendall Fuller, All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff and right tackle Cornelius Lucas, among others.

Washington also placed running back J.D. McKissic on injured reserve, dealing another tough blow to Washington’s decimated offense.

Washington activated the following players to fill out the roster:

  • FB Alex Armah
  • LB De’Jon Harris
  • QB Kyle Shurmur
  • OT David Steinmetz

In some good news for Washington, it has most of its defensive line back, including Montez Sweat — except for the injured Chase Young.

Washington’s two active quarterbacks will be Garrett Gilbert and Shurmur. Gilbert, 30, will make his second career NFL start. File that under things you never thought you’d see.

It’s official: Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback for Washington vs. Eagles

It’s official: Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback for Washington vs. Eagles.

The Washington Football Team hoped for a Christmas miracle ahead of Tuesday’s Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately for Washington, that miracle didn’t materialize, and journeyman Garrett Gilbert will start at quarterback in a critical NFC East game.

Tom Pelissero and Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network first reported Washington quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen did not clear COVID-19 protocols ahead of the 4:00 p.m. deadline and will remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

This is a tough break for Washington, which had hoped either Heinicke or Allen could clear COVID protocols and start against the Eagles.

Now, Washington’s playoff hopes are in the hands of the 30-year-old Gilbert. An eight-year NFL veteran, Gilbert is on his eighth team. He has one career start, and it came in 2020 for the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 21 of 38 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception as he nearly led the Cowboys to an upset over then-undefeated Pittsburgh.

Gilbert has completed 23 of 44 passes for 283 yards for his career with one touchdown and one interception. He appeared in one game for Ron Rivera’s Carolina Panthers in 2018 and made five brief appearances for the Cleveland Browns in 2019.

4-Down Territory: COVID protocols, Giants/Panthers reboots, best AFC team?

Doug Farrar and Luke Easterling debate the NFL’s most pressing topics in this week’s edition of “4-Down Territory.”

Every week, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, and Luke Easterling of Bucs Wire and Draft Wire, cover the NFL’s most pressing topics in their “4-Down Territory” video.

This week’s subjects of discussion which Doug and Luke debate and occasionally agree upon:

  1. After more than 150 positive tests among players and coaches last week, the NFL  relaxed its COVID standards to say that fully vaccinated, asymptomatic individuals will no longer be subject to weekly testing. There are contingencies for position groups and for team outbreaks, but is this a case of a league relaxing its standards to keep its season going over any public health concerns? And how do you think this ends for the NFL?
  2. At last week’s owners meetings, the owners approved a one-year rule in which teams that lose their head coaches in-season will be allowed to ask permission to interview potential replacements two weeks earlier than other teams. This certainly turned things in favor of Urban Meyer’s firing, as Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Meyer after he flew home from the owner’s meetings. Now, the Raiders and Jaguars are the only teams favored under the new rule. We both know that the Bears need to get in on this right now, but which other team should take advantage of this as soon as possible?
  3. When the Colts beat the Patriots on Saturday night, it meant that no AFC team could clinch a playoff berth or division title in Week 15. In a conference where nobody seems to want to dominate from week to week, which AFC team do you most believe in at this point?
  4. Urban Meyer is out of the NFL, never to return again. Matt Rhule is making a joke of his time with the Panthers. We’ve talked before about how difficult it is for established college coaches to make their way in the NFL. But if you were a team owner, and you had to hire a head coach only from the college ranks, who would be your choice?

Watch the video right here!

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7 Washington coaches will miss Tuesday’s game vs. Eagles due to COVID protocols

Seven Washington assistant coaches are out vs. Eagles Tuesday due to COVID-19 protocols.

The COVID-19 numbers continue to rise for the Washington Football Team. On a day that saw All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff added to the reserve/COVID-19 list and Matt Ioannidis activated, COVID-19 will now impact the coaching staff.

Washington announced seven coaches would miss Tuesday’s game vs. the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here’s the complete list:

  • Defensive line coach Sam Mills Jr.
  • Wide receivers coach Drew Terrell
  • Running backs coach Randy Jordan
  • Defensive backs coach Chris Harris
  • Assistants DBs/nickel coach Brent Vieselmeyer
  • Defensive quality control coach Vincent Rivera
  • Defensive coaching intern Christian Garcia

Washington announced replacements for the position coaches, such as Mills, Terrell, Jordan and Harris.

Only Ioannidis was activated from the COVID list Monday, as Washington still awaits word on quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen. Garrett Gilbert will likely start under center for Washington if neither Heinicke nor Allen can go.

Gilbert was signed Friday from the Patriots’ practice squad.

Brandon Scherff is Washington’s latest addition to the reserve/COVID-19 list

Brandon Scherff is the latest addition to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Washington Football Team had a good day Sunday when the team added no new players to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Unfortunately for Washington, Monday morning began with some bad news as All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Washington, down to its fourth center of the season, will now be without one of its offensive line anchors ahead of a big NFC East battle vs. Philadelphia Tuesday night.

Wes Schweitzer is Washington’s top backup guard and always starts when Scherff is out, is on injured reserve.

Scherff is a significant loss for Washington at any time, but especially now with so many other starters out. Washington must run the ball to be successful, which becomes more difficult without Scherff.

In more positive news for Washington, defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis is expected to be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Washington hopes to receive good news on at least one of its quarterbacks, Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen, who were both placed on the COVID list last week.

Washington activates Cam Sims, Daniel Wise from COVID-19 list

Cam Sims and Daniel Wise are activated from reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Washington Football Team received more good news Sunday morning when wide receiver Cam Sims and defensive lineman Daniel Wise were activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Washington still has 16 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including top quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen.

Sims had his best game of the season in the Week 14 loss to the Cowboys. He finished with three receptions for 69 yards and this incredible touchdown reception, which should be a contender for catch of the year.

Wise has seen his snaps increase in the last four games, including playing a career-high 70 snaps in Week 14 vs. Cowboys.

The league updated the COVID-19 protocols over the weekend, allowing asymptomatic vaccinated players not to be tested.

If Heinicke or Allen can’t clear protocols in the next 24 hours, it’s likely Washington starts new signee Garrett Gilbert at quarterback. Washington signed Gilbert off the Patriots’ practice squad Friday. Learn more about Gilbert here.