Ron Rivera Presser: Alex Smith was a little bit sore today, Taylor Heinicke took the majority of the snaps

Washington’s injury report/game status for Saturday vs. Bucs:

QUESTIONABLE
QB Alex Smith (calf)
WR Terry McLaurin (ankle)
RB Antonio Gibson (turf toe)
LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (ankle)

OUT
LB Thomas Davis (knee)

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera says that Alex Smith is still a little bit sore and he wishes his team didn’t play until Sunday. Instead, it’s Saturday night.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 7, 2021

Rivera said Smith's injury has played into his recent turnovers, but he's not too worried about it because Smith is a veteran player and plenty of other good things for the team.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Ron River said Taylor Heinicke took the majority of today’s reps

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) January 7, 2021

Rivera: We're trending up. We've got guys who we feel can be playmakers for us.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera admitted that it is imperative for @WashingtonNFL's offense to stay balanced, though that will be difficult against the Bucs' top-ranked rushing defense. Rivera also emphasized getting the ball to their playmakers in space.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Rivera: "We've got to keep this game close. ... That's what we have to do. Stay balanced."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 7, 2021

Rivera said Washington needs to keep the game close. If they do that, the defense can't pint their ears back. He think the team is capable of doing that.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Rivera didn't address the team about what happened yesterday the Capitol because he felt the energy was good after practice and didn't want to spoil the mood.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera wanted to talk to the team after practice about what happened at the Capitol. He wanted to point out how Congress returned to the building last night and "finished the job." But the mood was so good at practice he thought it might be "too heavy" and he opted not to.

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 7, 2021

Rivera on the violence at the Capitol: "It was a little scary because it wasn't indicative of our country. ... For this to have happened, I'm truly disappointed because there a better way."

He touts Stacey Abrams as a role model for how people should react to an election loss.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 7, 2021

Rivera said Todd Bowles and other coaches who have been in the league for a long time are able to adjust to their opponents. Bowles has done such a good job, he said, of being flexible and is one of the top defensive coordinators in the league.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera on #Bucs DC Todd Bowles:

"Todd has done such a good job with it in terms of being flexible, adjusting, adapting." That is what has allowed him to return as a defensive coordinator after being a head coach.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Rivera: "We can't turn the ball over and we have to play disciplined football."

— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 7, 2021

Also "I believe the reason I'm here is to win a Super Bowl" https://t.co/4q9nggDceQ

— Washington Football On SI.com (@WSHFootballSI) January 7, 2021

Rivera said he could tell the team appreciated its recent success, and it made him feel good as a head coach. Those little things give him more confidence about the potential about the roster that he has.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera on Steven Sims: “He’s the best guy we got.” Also just told us as he looks out his window during this presser, Sims is catching punts after practice and putting in extra work

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) January 7, 2021

On Steven Sims punt issues -- "He's the best guy we've got."

Says as he looked out window of his office - Sims is/was catching extra punts but....

Also says - if they had a better option he would go to that.

Working with P/K Kaare Vedvik

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera with the jokes on his birthday: "It's the 30th anniversary of my 29th year."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera said the rookies sang him happy birthday at practice day. "Not well, but they sang."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Washington is an underdog playing the Bucs, and Rivera thinks that helps his team play loose. The players are excited and they view it as a fun challenge to take on Tom Brady.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

"If you went on what everybody said, why play the game? Everybody talks about what the experts say, well... how many times have the experts been wrong?" -- Coach Rivera is spot on with that comment. #WashingtonFootball

— Julie Donaldson (@juliedonaldson_) January 7, 2021

Rivera: "All you need is hope. If you went on what everybody said why even play? How many times have experts been wrong? How many times has there been a major upset? It goes back to when this little guy David upset Goliath."

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera on QB Tom Brady: "Many people consider him the GOAT."

Rivera added it will be "a cool challenge" for @WashingtonNFL's young defense.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Rivera said the interior defensive linemen have prepared well for taking on Tom Brady. Rivera said getting interior pressure will affect anybody. He feels Washington has a good combination of guys up front.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Ron Rivera said the interior defensive line has done a "nice job preparing" to get after Tom Brady.

One of the keys against Brady will be to pressure him inside and off the edge.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Jack Del Rio is addressing the media on Turnover Thursday. He said he has learned quite a bit about Tom Brady in his seasons of coaching against him. He looks like a young man, not someone who is tailing off at the end of his career.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Jack Del Rio on what he has learned facing Tom Brady throughout this career: "Obviously, he's really good."

Called him a great player and a great competitor. Del Rio also hoped the 43-year-old would tail off, but in watching film on him, he doesn't believe that's the case.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Jack Del Rio says Tom Brady hasn't tailed off at the end of the year. He's been impressed with how Brady has performed down the stretch.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 7, 2021

Del Rio said there could be a mental challenge for facing Brady, but the players are locked in and focused on the game, from what he has seen this week.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Del Rio said the Buccaneers have blended Bruce Arians' offense with what Brady did well in New England.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Everyone knows defenses need to get pressure on Brady, but he's smart, accurate and throws great passes, Del Rio said, which makes it difficult to bring down a player like that.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Jack Del Rio said Tom Brady makes smart decisions and accurate throws, which is why it's so hard to rattle him when bringing pressure.

"It's simple (or he makes it look simple)."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Del Rio didn't try to predict what his defense would be become. He's just tried coach, teach and develop his players. Washington's defense finished the regular season second in the NFL, so clearly that approach has worked.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Jack Del Rio said he never really thought about what @WashingtonNFL's defense would look like at the end of the season. "I don't try and predict the future."

More than anything, he has preached bringing energy and attacking each day.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Del Rio said Gronkowski is a big challenge. He's a complete tight end and does a little bit of everything. In his prime, he was as dominant as you'll see as a blocker. Some TEs are good receivers, others are good blockers, but Gronk is both.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

Jack Del Rio on Rob Gronkowski: "In his prime, he was probably the most dominant blocker at the tight end position."

Might not be at the top of his game now, but he's still "pretty darn good," not only as a blocker but also as a pass-catcher.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

.@coachdelrio on @RiverboatRonHC example -
"the toughness, the determination & the grit"

Feels it led to this @WashingtonNFL being so resilient and tough.

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) January 7, 2021

.@coachdelrio on @RiverboatRonHC
"It's been great. I don't know how it can be any better."

"It's been an honor to just be here in this capacity and lead this defense for him." #WashingtonFootball

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) January 7, 2021

Antonio Brown has started to have more of an impact for the Bucs, and since the bye week his production has spiked, Del Rio said. The defense will have to be ready for a player like Brown, who has tremendous talent.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) January 7, 2021

QB Taylor Heinicke is speaking to the local media now. Said that all the QBs are "pretty comfortable" with the game plan and that the QBs do a good job working together to be prepared.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Taylor Heinicke: "A lot of people perform better when you really have something to play for."

Added that "when you're on that side, you'll do anything to get back into it." Heinicke was out of the NFL for more than a year before joining @WashingtonNFL's practice squad.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Taylor Heinicke: "I feel very comfortable in Scott Turner's offense. I feel like I know it like the back of my hand."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Great story from Taylor Heinicke, who was on practice squad in New England for a couple minutes.

Said he wanted to make a good impression the first day so he showed up at 5:15 a.m. to be the first one there.

Brady was already watching film.

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 7, 2021

Brady was unaware that the Patriots had signed a practice squad and was wondering who the hell Heinicke was. They watched film together and Heinicke said he was just worried about not saying anything stupid. https://t.co/Aa2MgPP1bV

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan: "My focus is on Tampa Bay right now and keeping this thing going."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan sees similarities with this team and @WashingtonNFL's previous two playoff teams in 2012 and 2015. "We really are feeling confident."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan when asked who would win between this year's team and the teams from 2012 and 2015: "I gotta say this team, right?"

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan on Tom Brady: "People call him the GOAT for a lot of reasons."

Says he's still got a rocket for an arm and has done a tremendous job taking care of his body.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan said it's so hard to bring down Tom Brady because he understands defenses really well, knows where the pressure is coming from and knows where to go with the ball at all times.

Kerrigan also says rookie RT Tristan Wirfs has been "pretty damn impressive."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan said this season has "had its challenges at times," with him not playing as much. However, he has tried to make the most of it and capitalize when he's on the field.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Ryan Kerrigan on @WashingtonNFL making the playoffs despite its 7-9 record:

"Why can't we go win this playoff game? Why can't we go win another one after that? You have to have that approach and have that mindset."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

DE Ryan Kerrigan on what happened at the Capitol: "Some of the things that have happened in this past year around our country don't seem real. ... Here in Virginia, you feel like you're removed, but then you're like, this type of event is happening 25, 30 miles down the road."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 7, 2021

Antonio Gibson says his toe is "getting there." Less swelling after the Philly game compared to the prior week.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 7, 2021

RB Antonio Gibson said he didn't have any setback with his toe after playing vs. Philly. Said after the Carolina game it swelled up a bit... said the toe "feels better definitely."

— John Keim (@john_keim) January 7, 2021

According to Antonio Gibson, seventh-year vet Logan Thomas had not played on Sunday Night Football before facing the Eagles in Week 17. Thomas told Gibson he would make the most of it, then caught the TD that gave @WashingtonNFL the lead for good.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) January 7, 2021

Antonio Gibson said last week he was surprised to learn it was Logan Thomas' first career appearance on "Sunday Night Football." Gibson told him to go make a play... pic.twitter.com/AysvEIbDgX

— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) January 7, 2021