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Injury updates:
Washington's practice report for Wednesdsay:
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 16, 2020
DNP
RB Antonio Gibson (toe)
QB Alex Smith (calf)
LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (ankle)
LB Thomas Davis (non-injury related)
LIMITED
RB Peyton Barber (ankle)
DT Jonathan Allen (groin)
Dwayne Haskins Jr.:
For those parsing Ron's words....
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) December 16, 2020
He's getting an opportunity....how he handles that, "we'll see on Sunday." https://t.co/oXt7CaHMTj
Ron Rivera says it was a normal practice and Dwayne Haskins handled all the situations well
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith:
Rivera said that if Alex Smith were not able to practice at all this week, he would feel good about him playing Sunday because he is an intelligent veteran.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Ron RIvera says with a veteran QB like Alex Smith he could wait all the way until Sunday AM before making a QB decision
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Antonio Gibson:
Ron Rivera on RB Antonio Gibson, who missed last week's game with a toe injury:
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
"Good progress, and pleased with where things are headed right now."
Gibson worked with trainers off to the side today.
Ron Rivera said that RB Antonio Gibson (toe) has made good progress; they like the direction it's going...
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 16, 2020
My take: We still don't know yet what that means for Sunday. Only know that it's a tough injury and he didn't practice today.
Kamren Curl:
Second time this season that Ron Rivera brought up how Kam Curl would have been drafted higher if he had a Pro Day.@WashingtonNFL ended up drafting Curl in the 7th round, and he's emerged as one of the best defensive rookies in the NFL.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
#3 QB:
Ron Rivera does not reveal who would be the backup QB if Alex Smith cannot play:
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
"We're going to work through this week, and see how everything goes."@WashingtonNFL has QBs Taylor Heinicke and Steven Montez on the practice squad.
Scott Turner
Offense tailor-made for the QB:
WFT offensive coordinator Scott Turner says he will run the offense but tailor plays to whatever QB is under center - whether it's Smith or Haskins
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Offensive coordinator Scott Turner talking to the media now. On the QB situation: "We'll see about Alex as far as his health goes, and Dwayne will prepare accordingly."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
Turner said the game plan would change slightly depending on who starts. Wants to tailor plays to the QB
Dwayne Haskins Jr.:
"[Dwayne]'s got a great mentor to show him on a daily basis in Alex, and he's taking that to heart." https://t.co/YGgeJeavDs
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
Young QBs:
Turner said it is important for young QBs to develop the right habits and always be moving in the right direction. That way when the opportunity comes, he'll be ready to make the most of it.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith
Calf injury:
Here's Alex Smith, on his injury. @JPFinlayNBCS asked if it was related to the injury from two years ago. pic.twitter.com/uWGU8KcNy9
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) December 16, 2020
Every Wednesday the starting QB holds a press conference. Right now, Alex Smith is conducting that press conference. He says the calf is "feeling all right"
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith, despite not practicing today, is addressing the media. Said his calf is "feeling all right."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
".Just trying to keep making improvements. It's early in the week, here, and we'll see how it goes."
QB Alex Smith says his right calf strain is not at all related to his previous major injury to the leg. He called it "a freak thing" that was minor the week before and it became a bigger problem vs SF.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) December 16, 2020
"I feel alright. ... It's early in the week, and we'll see how it goes."
Alex Smith says his calf injury has nothing to do with his broken leg from 2 years ago, and that it happened last week but flared up during the 49ers game. He said "unique circumstances" in his right leg but not complicated by the previous injury
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Practice:
Smith does not know if he has ever gone a whole week without practicing ahead of a Sunday game, but he mentioned how with Thursday games, there's basically no practice. They go out to the field, but "to call those practices is a stretch."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
Playing this week:
Alex Smith on his injury/chance to play: "If I feel like it's something that prohibits or limits me, those are easy decisions."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 16, 2020
Smith on getting ready for Sunday's game: "To me, it just boils down to me being honest with myself."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) December 16, 2020
If he feels like he can go, he will. If he feels like he'll be limited, he'll be honest with himself about that, too.
Playing injured last week:
His right lower leg was the one that underwent multiple debridements because of an infection. So the muscle at the front of his leg is for blood supply and filler, but it doesn't function like it does for anyone else. No nerves. https://t.co/Vz2g6nO0jHhttps://t.co/TWVsRbC3d8
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith says he thought he could battle through the calf injury on Sunday, but it quickly got worse. Best course now is rest and recovery.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Chase Young:
Alex Smith knows a thing or two hundred about leadership, and he just said Chase Young has "genuine" leadership skills
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith calls it "crazy unusual" for a rookie to be a leader like Chase Young is, but it's "genuine" leadership. "I've never seen a guy roam the sidelines while were on offense."
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith said “it’s crazy unusual” for a rookie to step in and be the kind of emotional leadership that Chase Young has displayed. Smith used words like rare, unique and impressive to describe the special leadership Young has
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) December 16, 2020
Alex Smith raved about Chase Young's leadership; says it's "crazy unusual" for a rookie. "I've never seen a guy roam the sidelines like he does when we're on offense & how engaged he is... Cares about his teammates... big impact beyond his play. That is special for a young guy."
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 16, 2020
Tress Way
Nate Kaczor:
Tress Way is addressing the media. Prior to the 2017 season, he said he had a conversation with ST coordinator Nate Kaczor and he said Tress' talent wasn't matching his production, and Kaczor pushed him to be better.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Punter tackle:
More on Way's tackle against the 49ers: He doesn't care about the form. As long as the returner doesn't get in the end zone, that's all that matters to him.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Ron Rivera:
Way said Rivera, in any circumstance, especially when things weren't looking good in the beginning of the season, is able to coach players to their best potential. His ability to coach them in how they approach the game is something that he could listen to all day long.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Mind games:
Way said he is not a guy who likes to have long warmup, but he loves to watch the opposing team's coaches watch him and try to understand what his capabilities are each week and says he likes to mess with their minds a little bit.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Tress Way says he likes messing with the opp ST coaches in pre-game where/how he's punting. Loves when the opp asst ST coach, timing his punts, gives his ST coach a palms up-- as in he has no idea. "We don't have ping pong anymore so that's where I get my competitive juices out."
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 16, 2020
Momentum:
Way said the momentum the team has right now is unbelievable. He remembers the last time Washington had a playoff run in 2015 and is thankful to be a part of this one five years later.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Peyton Barber
Ron Rivera:
Peyton Barber is addressing the media now. He said Ron Rivera has been a great coach over the past year and definitely lives up to his "Riverboat Ron" nickname.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Players are believing in each other:
Barber said it's great to see the team turn its season turn around. The mindset, he said, has changed over that time, and the players are believing in each other.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Underdogs:
Barber said Washington wants to continue playing as if they are the underdogs and keeping that mindset throughout the season.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020
Quarterbacks:
Barber said all of Washington's quarterbacks are talented. They can make all the throws and lead the offense.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) December 16, 2020