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Who wants some early morning good news on division-clinching Sunday? Ron Rivera provided some much-needed injury updates to Sal Paolantonio about three key offensive starters. QB Alex Smith has been cleared to start, and the expectation is he will play the full game. Wr Terry McLaurin and RB Antonio Gibson are also good to go.
We got a report yesterday that Smith was going to play today, but nothing was confirmed by the team until now. Smith has missed the last 2 1/2 games with a calf strain in his surgically-repaired leg. He was on track to return last week, but his leg tightened up on him after a full Friday practice. This week everything has gone right, and Smith will go into Philly as the starter. He can cement his Comeback Player of the Year award tonight by leading Washington to a division title with a win.
Via Sal Paolantonio on @SportsCenter: Washington FT coach Ron Rivera tells him Alex Smith has been cleared to start Sunday vs. the Eagles and the team has every expectation he will start and play a full game. WR Terry McLaurin and RB Antonio Gibson are also good to go.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 3, 2021
Antonio Gibson returned to the field last week after missing two games with turf toe. He started off strong, but then the team turned to J.D. McKissic when they fell behind. Gibson hasn't practiced all week and was listed as questionable. The rookie RB has been a key part of Washington's offense this week, and will be out there against an Eagles team that is resting a lot of people.
Word came out last night that even though Terry McLaurin had a significant high-ankle sprain, he was going to play through the pain to help the team clinch the division. He has been dealing with an ankle injury since Week 11, but suffered the more severe sprain two weeks ago vs the Seahawks. He was forced to sit out last week, but won't miss another game. Hopefully he isn't needed for a heavy workload to finish the wounded birds.
Washington WR Terry McLaurin has a significant high ankle sprain but intends to try to play Sunday in Philly, per sources. Could be limited in what he's able to do out there — high ankle sprains usually take a min. 6 wks — but this is McLaurin. Knows the importance of this game.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 2, 2021
So he'll try to play, and if he does, it'll be in a good bit of discomfort. File this among the many reasons he was voted a team captain.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 2, 2021