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Washington Roster Moves: Two OTs and a quarantine QB signed to the practice squad, Bryce Love staying on IR

Making moves

Carolina Panthers v Pittsburgh Steelers Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

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.

Washington is protecting their backup QB, and backup Kicker/Punter this week.

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.

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.

In other RB news, Washington is hosting Michael Warren II for a visit this week.