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The NFL is having major COVID-19 problems, and every team is adjusting to new protocols. Tonight we will see a Wednesday night football game played at 3:40 p.m. between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers that has been rescheduled 3 times. The Ravens at one point had 23 players on the COVID-19 reserve list. The Denver Broncos had to call up a practice squad WR with some college QB experience this week because of mask violations by their QB group. The result was a predictable disaster.
The Washington Football Team has done very well this year with COVID-19 protocols, and has only had two players placed on the reserve list during the season, Matt Ioannidis who is on IR, and Javon Leake less than a week after he signed to the practice squad.
Washington has two QBs on their 53-man roster ( Alex Smith and Dwayne Haskins Jr.) and Steven Montez who is signed to the practice squad. They are now adding a 4th. Taylor Heinicke is being signed as the team's "quarantine" QB and will be separated from the other QBs on the roster to prevent a situation like Denver's.
Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner has known Heinicke for a while, and scouted him at his Pro Day at Old Dominion. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015. Scott Turner was then the Vikings QB coach under his dad Norv Turner, who was the offensive coordinator. Heinicke got playing time when he reunited with the Turners in Carolina. Cam Newton's injury led to Heinicke getting his only start in the NFL, before he too was injured and placed on IR.
Also, was told the other day one of their QBs has antibodies. Don’t know which one. (HIPAA). But could still have two QBs active in a worst case scenario. https://t.co/F3OxxoGQNA
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 2, 2020
Heinicke already knows Washington's system and staff well. He played for Norv and Scott Turner first in Minnesota (2015-16) and then again in Carolina (2018), with Ron Rivera as HC.https://t.co/ZpOdGv8ESy
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 1, 2020
Washington is protecting their backup QB, and backup Kicker/Punter this week.
Washington's practice-squad protections for this week are QB Steven Montez and K/P Kaare Vedvik.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 1, 2020
Two more additions to the practice squad were made official yesterday. Timon Parris is making his return to the team after being released before the season started. Parris was originally signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent out of Stony Brook in 2018. He made the main roster after being on the practice squad in 2018 due to injury, and was signed to the 53-man roster again last year when the Indianapolis Colts tried to poach him.
Washington also signed OT Rick Leonard who was a 4th round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2018. Leonard (6'7", 311lbs) has bounced around the practice squads over the last three seasons. He will try to make it in Washington.
We have signed T Timon Parris and T Rick Leonard to the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/q9xmWDcuDB
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) December 1, 2020
The final roster move is one that most people expected. Bryce Love will not be activated from injured reserve, and his season is over. Love is still recovering from an ACL injury that happened on the final play of his college career two years ago. He tried to return this year, and participated in training camp. He was placed on IR after the season started which gave him a chance to come back. Washington opened the 21 day practice window 3 weeks ago, but Love's knee continues to be an issue and he is being shut down again.
Also: They did not cut Adrian Peterson to keep Love. Saw that too. No, no, no. They cut Peterson because they saw big growth in Antonio Gibson. They knew Love wouldn't do much for a while, if at all (said this at the time too).
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 1, 2020
In other RB news, Washington is hosting Michael Warren II for a visit this week.
Per the wire, Washington also has a visit with Michael Warren II, an undrafted RB who topped 1,300 and 1,200 rushing yards in his last two years at the University of Cincinnati.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 2, 2020