When the NFL moved the Washington Football Team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles from Sunday to Tuesday, there was hope that the extra time would allow for one of the team’s top-2 quarterbacks to clear COVID-19 protocols.
That hope evaporated Tuesday evening when neither Taylor Heinicke nor Kyle Allen was among the three players Washington announced as having been activated.
Those three players were cornerback Troy Apke, tight end Sammis Reyes and defensive tackle Tim Settle — just a fraction of the more than 20 players Washington placed on the COVID-19/Reserve list amid a breakout last week.
The news means Garrett Gilbert, who Washington signed just four days ago, will get the start at quarterback.
We have made the following moves ahead of the Week 15 matchup pic.twitter.com/idEw8rPZRn
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) December 21, 2021
#Washingtonfootball Team QBs Taylor Henicke and Kyle Allen continue to test for COVID-19 and therefore will not play tonight against the #Eagles, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
Garrett Gilbert, who was with the #Patriots this time last week, will start.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 21, 2021
Tuesday’s game, which carries huge playoff implications for both teams, will be the second start of Gilbert’s career and first since he was thrust into a replacement role for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 of last season.
Gilbert wasn’t completely awful that game — 21-of-38 for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — but he had been on the roster for several weeks up to that point. The effort isn’t inspiring much confidence in what he and Washington will accomplish Tuesday.
As of Dec. 13, the Eagles were 4.5-point favorites on Tipico Sportsbook with -230 odds on their moneyline and +180 on Washington. By Tuesday evening, that line is -8.5 with -475 on the Eagles and +340 on Washington.
The winner of this game improves to 7-7, which ties the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints for the seventh and final playoff seed in the conference. At 6-8, the loser will have a hard time getting back into the playoff picture.
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