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The Washington Football Team is dealing with a number of injuries as they prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals. LT Geron Christian Sr. Is still dealing with a knee injury, and his replacement Cornelius Lucas injured his ankle last week. That led to Morgan Moses moving over to LT, and David Sharpe filling in at RT. Ron Rivera said it's possible Moses could get the start at LT, but it will depend on the health of the other linemen.
In other injury replacement news, Troy Apke will return as the starting FS if Deshazor Everett can't play this week. And in news that shouldn't surprise anyone, Bryce Love is being held out of practice due to some swelling in his knee. Love has two weeks to be activated from IR after he returned to practice a week ago. This looks like another lost year for Love, but there is still a short window for him to make his comeback.
Ron Rivera has been taken to task for some confusing statements in his first season with Washington. He wanted to clear up today that he didn't say anything about a kicking change after people reported what he said on Monday. Thanks for clearing that up coach!
Will Dustin Hopkins be replaced?
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) November 16, 2020
"We're discussing" pic.twitter.com/b8khTo8nAZ
Press Conference: Ron RiveraHead Coach Ron Rivera met with the media in Week 11.
Posted by Washington Football Team on Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Injury updates:
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Washington Football Team injury report
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2020
DNP:
Cornelius Lucas (ankle)
Geron Christian (knee)
Dontrelle Inman (hamstring)
Ryan Anderson (knee)
Deshazor Everett (ankle)
Jared Norris (hamstring)
Dustin Hopkins (groin)
Deshazor Everett, Geron Christian, Cornelius Lucas among the #WashingtonFootball players not practicing. Ron says "anything is possible" on starting LT & Apke would be FS if Everett not ready.@WSHFootballSI
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 18, 2020
Ron Rivera on if Morgan Moses will start at left tackle, with injuries to Cornelius Lucas and Geron Christian: "Maybe. Anything's possible. We'll see."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2020
Moses moved to LT last week when Lucas came out with an ankle injury. David Sharpe took over at RT.
Bryce Love:
Ron Rivera on Bryce Love (knee). Said the RB has "been slowed down a little bit" due to soreness so they are taking it slow with his return. Still on IR. Team has 14 days remaining to activate.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 18, 2020
Dustin Hopkins:
Ron Rivera says "I said nothing about a kicking change" when asked about Dustin Hopkins, who was also out of practice today.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 18, 2020
Joe Burrow:
Joe Burrow's confidence really stood out to Ron Rivera when they met at the NFL Combine.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
"He's got confidence, tremendous confidence in his abilities, and it's not in a boastful way either."
When getting ready for opponents, head coach Ron Rivera says it's important to figure out "where you want to attack and how you want to attack."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Defensively, @WashingtonNFL should be able to get after QB Joe Burrow. Bengals have allowed 32 sacks, second-worst in the NFL.
Chase Young:
Ron Rivera on Joe Burrow ahead of the draft: "He and Chase [Young] had a certain charisma. ... They both reminded me of Cam [Newton] because they both had a certain charisma you look for in players."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2020
Rivera said it has been amazing to watch Chase Young, despite the fact that he has been double and tripled teamed in games.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 18, 2020
Ron Rivera on Chase Young dealing with double and triple teams: "He's fought, he's fought, he's fought, and he's continued to compete." Said that when things start rolling, people will not be able to put so much attention on Young. That's when the stats will come.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Alex Smith:
Ron Rivera said that Alex Smith has been "pretty impressive" throwing the football the past two weeks.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
"Alex has showed me that he's a better thrower than I thought."
Dwayne Haskins Jr.:
This is in reference to Dan Hellie on our show yesterday. Hellie inferred, from a convo with Ron Rivera, that Haskins will play again when Washington is out of the running. He didn't report it was happening. He just said he THINKS it will happen based on his chat with Rivera. https://t.co/JrAy1V3mOq
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 18, 2020
COVID-19 protocols:
Rivera on entering the NFL's intensive protocols: "This is our new normal, and we have to make the best of it." https://t.co/UVles6t4T9
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Ron Rivera said he chose to have a walkthrough today because he wanted his players to get used to working with a mask on. "Plus, last week we spent a couple days in the bubble then played on the turf, so we also wanted to give guys a chance to let their bodies heal up ..."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2020
Ron Rivera: "I think everybody understands this is our new normal and we just have to make the best of it. My message is really to guys, 'Just stick to the protocols, don't make a big deal of it, just understand this is how we have to get through it.'"
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2020
Ron Rivera also said he could not talk about if any other players are being held out because of COVID protocols. #WashingtonFootball @WSHFootballSI
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 18, 2020
Rivera teases @ScottABC7 for asking last week about the team not having any positive tests. At the time he called it a jinx.
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) November 18, 2020
"Just so you know, these protocols are brought to you by Scott Abraham."
Scott Turner
Fast start:
Fast Start, need to get off to a fast start - but HOW? OC Scott Turner says "It's not just starting, it's finishing." Have to do a better job putting the team in position to not play from behind. #WashingtonFootball
— Julie Donaldson (@juliedonaldson_) November 18, 2020
Morgan Moses:
Scott Turner said after the game that he asked Morgan Moses the last time he played LT, and he said his rookie season. Turner has confidence in Moses to move that way, if the team needed him to
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2020
Steven Sims
Alex Smith:
Steven Sims is addressing the media now. He said the offense is riding behind Alex Smith. He said the offense has not missed a beat since Kyle Allen's injury
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 18, 2020
Young WRs:
Sims said it's great to see some of the younger receivers step up and make plays. He's excited for what the future holds for them.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 18, 2020
Winnable games:
Sims felt like the past two games have been very winnable. It all comes down to getting off to a better start and winning the turnover battle.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 18, 2020
COVID-19 protocols:
Sims said it'll be important for him and his teammates to be "self-pros" while the facility is closed and watch film and workout on their own time. They'll have to be adapt their daily routine.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 18, 2020
Press Conference: Alex SmithAlex Smith spoke to the media about his play in Week 10, working with the young receivers, and more.
Posted by Washington Football Team on Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Alex Smith
Plenty of chances to win vs Lions:
QB Alex Smith is addressing the media now. Said there were "plenty of chances to win" the Lions game, especially early on. Frustrating in that sense, but he was pumped how they came out in the second half. A lot of things for a young team to build off of and grow from.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Comfortable:
Alex Smith says his most recent performance is the "most comfortable I've felt" since his rehab.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 18, 2020
Capable of winning:
Alex Smith said after his first start last Sunday in Detroit he felt like he "checked another box" in that "he's capable of winning football in this league."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2020
Alex Smith said his performance was "another level" to show what's he capable of. He said he's appreciative of the support that he's received from everyone, but is focused on the season.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 18, 2020
Injury recovery:
Alex Smith says when he was wheelchair and bed bound, he watched a lot of video.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) November 18, 2020
Videos on military men & women who had been through catastrophic injuries and recovery.
Today is two-year anniversary of injury. @WSHFootballSI @LockedWFTPod @1067theFan
Alex Smith says he's very aware that today is two years since the break. Says you take a moment to appreciate where he and his family are. Said he's happy to be in this position that he didn't think was possible again
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2020
Alex Smith on the two-year anniversary of his leg injury: "You do take a moment, and it is a good reminder to look around and [see] how lucky we are, how lucky I am."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2020
Slow start?:
Alex Smith does not think the offense started slow since it was moving the up and down the field throughout the first half. Said it shows just how important situational football is "because the margins are so small in this league." Can't make mistakes that cost the team points.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Obama shoutout:
Said it's tough to get any bigger than the former President Barack Obama shouting him out. But Alex Smith said he tries not to think about that too much
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2020
Critical feedback:
Alex Smith said that after each of his three appearances this season, he reached out to people who were around him a lot pre-injury for "critical feedback."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Mentioned former Washington OC Kevin O'Connell (Rams) and former teammates Colt McCoy (Giants) and Chase Daniel (Lions)
Career highs:
Alex Smith he had no idea about his statistics until after the game. Smith set career highs in completions (38), attempts (55) and passing yards (390) against the Lions.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Alex Smith said he looked at his stats and that was his first time realizing he threw for almost 400 yards
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2020
Young offense:
Alex Smith spoke to the media about his relationship with the young receivers.
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 19, 2020
: https://t.co/KMgGNvPyFv pic.twitter.com/dUlGocpO93
Alex Smith hyping up the young offense: "The young guys at the skill positions on offense bring such great energy every single day." Also mentioned how they love football and want the football. They showed that Sunday.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 18, 2020
Alex Smith said the younger guys have helped him by doing their job, of course, but being high energy. Coming into the building and smiling, and that positive energy is infectious and rubs off on him. He said they just love football, and he's having fun, too.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2020