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Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera spoke to the media the day after another embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He gave several injury updates, and confirmed several players will be returning to practice this week. Brian Robinson was shot in the glute and knee on August 28th, and has been recovering for over a month. He will return to practice on Wednesday, and if everything goes well he could be suited up for his first NFL game on Sunday. Rivera was optimistic about his chances, and his impact on the offense.
Backup center Tyler Larsen will also be activated on Wednesday, opening up the 21 day window to decide whether to activate or shut down the players for the season. Larsen tore his Achilles late last year, and is returning to a team that is on it’s third starting center who was a street free agent less than two weeks ago. Larsen will have to practice and be cleared by coaches to return, but this is much-needed depth and possibly a starter returning.
Chase Young will not be among the group of players who will be activated on Wednesday. Rivera said he is trending in the right direction, but he needs more time. Young had a more complicated ACL than Logan Thomas who has already returned from an early December ACL tear, but is still obviously not 100% back to form. Young had ACL reconstructive surgery compared to Thomas’s ACL repair surgery. It was reported yesterday that Young is targeting a midseason return to the field.
Rookie WR Jahan Dotson left yesterdays game against the Cowboys with a hamstring injury. Rivera said today that the injury could cause him to miss a week or two. Dotson seemed optimistic about it after the game. We will have to wait to see if he practices at all this week. Washington hosts the Tennessee Titans this week, then visits the Chicago Bears on a short week for Thursday Night Football.
LIVE: HC Ron Rivera speaks to the media https://t.co/z10jDpBbWL
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 3, 2022
Brian Robinson:
Ron Rivera said Commanders RB Brian Robinson was medically cleared and will "start his clock" — the three-week window in which the team can either activate him or leave him on NFI.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 3, 2022
Rivera said there will "apparently not" have any limitations in practice for Robinson, but they will see how he does throughout the week
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) October 3, 2022
Rivera said having Robinson back will provide a boost to the Commanders' back field and help slow up the pass rush. They want to establish the run early to open opportunities in play action
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) October 3, 2022
Rivera on whether Robinson will be ready to go on Sunday: If he continues to progress, there's a very good chance he will play
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) October 3, 2022
Chase Young:
The clock on DE Chase Younh (ACL) will not start this week even though he is eligible to return this week.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) October 3, 2022
Chase Young “trending in right direction” but he won’t be taken off IR this week. Rivera says “needs more time” #halloweenvibes
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 3, 2022
Rivera on Chase Young: "He’s been doing very well, has been trending in the right direction....We have to wait and see where he is after this week. But the doctors are optimistic. They’ve been pretty promising as far as their reports. It’s just they feel he needs a bit more time.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 3, 2022
Tyler Larsen:
Washington also will activate C Tyler Larsen; tore his Achilles late last season
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 3, 2022
Penalties:
Rivera said the team created its own mistakes because of the penalties. Created tougher third down situations that they could not get out of
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) October 3, 2022
Saahdiq Charles/Trai Turner:
Saahdiq Charles will be the right guard moving forward, Ron Rivera confirms. Rivera and Trai Turner had a "very good conversation" about the switch today. Turner, who's dealing with a leg issue, will not go on short-term IR
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) October 3, 2022
Saahdiq Charles will start at RG; Rivera said Trai Turner still not right because of his quad injury. Needs to continue strengthening his leg. Said they rushed him back a bit.
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 3, 2022
Jahan Dotson:
Rivera said WR Jahan Dotson is dealing with a hamstring injury. He saw him grab his leg during the holding penalty (called on Dallas). Sat him out of caution. "We're hoping it will settle down in time and won't be anything major that lasts longer than a week or two," he said.
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 3, 2022
Injuries:
Ron Rivera said he feels "tremendous frustration" over the myriad injuries the Commanders have dealt with so far. Just as they get Brian Robinson back, they lose Jahan Dotson for a week a two ... pic.twitter.com/l3ueuB1xfu
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 3, 2022
We should be better:
Ron Rivera on his Commanders: "I just think that we should be better than we are"
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) October 3, 2022
We just got to do better:
Ron Rivera, asked about the NFC East separating with Philly at 4-0, Dallas and New York at 3-1 and Washington at 1-3:
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 3, 2022
"It's the same as it's been. ... There's a sense of urgency. We all have to do better. Players, coaches. ... We just got to do better. We know that."
Fan anger:
Ron Rivera had a very lengthy answer when asked about fans' frustration with the Commanders after a 1-3 start. Dropped an f-bomb and everything. pic.twitter.com/a3GGK2m1GD
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 3, 2022
Ron Rivera insists that there's a sense of urgency in Washington and he understands why fans are upset with the current standing of the team: "Shit, this organization's got five championships. You fucking kidding me?"
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) October 3, 2022
Rivera making clear he knows fans are frustrated but says the team is pushing hard to flip things around
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 3, 2022
Rivera is giving a lengthy answer right now on responding to fans being upset. It's at least two minutes long, and he dropped an f-bomb: "When it's ready to turn, it will. ... We've got to do everything we can."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 3, 2022
Rivera said, "I understand the history, what's gone on here for a while and we're trying to change that. It won't happen overnight and won't be easy. If anyone thought it would be easy you're crazy. I tried to get that across last season."
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 3, 2022
Rivera: "...keep playing hard. That's the only thing we can do until we get to the point we believe ... everyone is in place, everyone's healthy and rolling...We'll continue to work hard and try to mature as a team. This is going to take time."
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 3, 2022