Pressers

Ron Rivera Presser: Troy Apke didn’t play as bad as people think he did

Ron Rivera speaks to the press after today's practice

By Scott Jennings@ScottJenningsHH Sep 23, 2020, 1:30pm EDT

Ron Rivera gave some updates following today’s practice. Washington’s injury list got a lot longer this week after their trip to the desert in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Six players didn’t practice today, and RT Morgan Moses was limited(hip). Kendall Fuller was not listed on the injury report after missing the first two weeks, and most of training camp, with a knee injury.

Rivera talked about stopping the Cleveland Browns running game when they go on the road again to face them Sunday. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are a formidable duo that have been very productive this year. He said Washington’s RB corps has the ability to produce like Cleveland’s, but they are still young. Rivera also talked about the Browns’ WR group, saying they are still “trying to find themselves”, but they have the ability to get vertical.

Troy Apke has been a lightning rod for criticism in Washington’s fanbase, but Rivera said that he didn’t play as badly as people think he did. He also didn’t play as well as he is capable of. We Schweitzer took over for Brandon Scherff when he went down with an MCL sprain, but Rivera didn’t name him as the starter...yet. Scherff is on IR now, and the team’s depth chart lists Schweitzer. Rivera said they’ll be looking at a few options this week.

Head Coach Ron Rivera Speaks With The Media
Head Coach Ron Rivera spoke to the media.
Posted by Washington Football Team on Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Injury update:

Washington's injury report for Wednesday:

DID NOT PRACTICE
DE Ryan Kerrigan (toe)
LB Thomas Davis (illness)
OT Saahdiq Charles (leg)
LB Cole Holcomb (knee)
WR Steven Sims Jr. (toe)
DE Ryan Anderson (leg)⁰

LIMITED
RT Morgan Moses (hip)
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 23, 2020

Kendall Fuller off the injury report for Washington. Which is good.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 23, 2020

Kendall Fuller:

Rivera on Kendall Fuller. Good news that he practiced, but cautioned it's hard to know what to expect going forward for a player who has been out a while until he returns to practice.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 23, 2020

CB Kendall Fuller, who missed the first two games with a knee injury, practiced fully today. When players practice fully on Wednesdays, Rivera said it's important to see how they feel Thursday. That will give the team a better indication of Fuller's status for Week 3.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 23, 2020

Rotation:

Rivera said that without preseason games, they've tried to "shuttle in different groups of guys" in certain areas. They're doing that because if they don't, they'll never know what they have.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 23, 2020

Rivera wants to find out what Washington has in its players, so the team has tried to "shuttle in different groups of guys" in certain areas.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 23, 2020

Matchups:

Rivera does not like to talk about specific matchups because of how closely everyone is connected on every play.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 23, 2020

Ron Rivera says this isn't about one matchup (Callahan's OL vs. #WashingtonFootball DL) but the point he hammers home is they better stop the run because if #Browns get rolling on ground, it opens up dangerous play action & boots. @WSHFootballSI @theMMQB @LockedWFTPod
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 23, 2020

Wes Schweitzer:

Asked Ron Rivera if Wes Schweitzer is the plan at right guard with Scherff down for a few weeks. Rivera said they'll be looking at a few options at that spot this week
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 23, 2020

Rivera said he liked Schweitzer Sunday, but played coy today about the OL lineup for Sunday at Cleveland. Schweitzer lined at RG during open portion of practice today.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 23, 2020

Rivera said he thought Wes Schweitzer did a "nice job" in place of Brandon Scherff in Arizona.

He wouldn't announce Schweitzer as the starter, but he was listed as the starting RG on the latest depth chart.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 23, 2020

Troy Apke:

Rivera said there were some plays where Washington was lucky to have Apke making plays.

He also said that "He didn't play as well as he was capable of, but he didn't play as bad as people think he did."
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 23, 2020

Head Coach Ron Rivera on Troy Apke: “He didn’t play as well as he’s capable of, but didn’t play as bad as people think he did.” Rivera went on to say there were plays where they were very lucky to have Apke in the back.
— Logan Campbell (@loganncampbelll) September 23, 2020

Browns WRs:

Coach Rivera previews the Week 3⃣ matchup
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 23, 2020

Rivera says the Browns' receiving crew is "still trying to find themselves," but he worries about their ability to get vertical.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 23, 2020

Running backs:

Rivera believes Washington's stable of running backs has the potential to produce like the Browns' duo is right now. Through two games, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have combined for 342 rushing yards.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 23, 2020

The Browns have been one of the best rushing teams through two weeks, and Rivera believes Washington's RBs can have similar production. Browns HC Kevin Stefanski also said Washington's RBs have complementary styles.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 23, 2020

Practice:

Rivera said he liked the energy and tempo at practice today. The last period was a little sluggish, but he liked the effort overall.

As for his message coming off the loss: "Learn. Learn from last week."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 23, 2020

Breonna Taylor:

Also, Rivera was asked about the ruling in Kentucky in the Breonna Taylor case. Answered by saying he supports the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, & that it will be "unfortunately" the legacy of a young life cut short
— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) September 23, 2020

In Kentucky, a grand jury indicted one police officer, but not for the death of Breonna Taylor.

Ron Rivera's thoughts on it include a reference to "the Breonna Taylor pact" in which the city of Louisville agreed to pay Taylor's family $12 million and reform police practices. pic.twitter.com/y6gCmEE2PR
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) September 23, 2020