Open Threads

NFL 2021 Week 13: Washington Football Team vs Las Vegas Raiders 1st Quarter

Washington visits the Las Vegas Raiders

By Scott Jennings@ScottJenningsHH Dec 5, 2021, 3:00pm EST

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

NFL: NOV 29 Seahawks at Washington Football Team

Washington enters Week 13 with a 5-6 record and a 3-game winning streak. They now sit in 2nd place in the NFC East after Monday night’s victory over the Seattle Seahawks. That game saw Washington dominate on the field, but not on the scoreboard. Kicker Joey Slye’s injury played a big part in the Football Team being unable to seal the game up earlier (along with an overturned Logan Thomas TD on a 4th & goal play).

Today’s opponent is the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that beat the NFC East 1st place Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX last week on Thanksgiving Day. We appreciate that game, but Washington needs the win today to keep their 7th seed in the playoff hunt. Washington is dealing with several key injuries, but as Terry McLaurin said, “Nobody cares. We know the Raiders don’t.”

In an update to the Friday injury report, Las Vegas starting tight end Darren Waller has been ruled out of Sunday’s game. He will be replaced by 3rd year player, Foster Moreau, who is the 2nd leading touchdown-scorer for the Vegas offense in 2021; he has 3 TDs on the season coming into this afternoon’s matchup.

Reports indicate that Desean Jackson may be a gametime decision.

All four players listed as questionable on the WFT injury report traveled to Las Vegas with the team, raising hopes that most or all of them may be available.

Washington elevated two practice squad players this week — Center Jon Toth and RB Wendell Smallwood. Toth provides depth in case Tyler Larsen is not healthy enough to play or backup Keith Ismael, while Smallwood is expected to see the field in place of J.D. McKissic, who remains in the concussion protocol.