Ron Rivera Says Antonio Gibson Will Be Commanders' Top Kick Returner This Season

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera told reporters that he thinks Antonio Gibson will be the team's top kick returner.

John Keim shared the comments.

John Keim @john_keim

Ron Rivera, when asked if Antonio Gibson is their starting KR entering the season: “I think you still need to see some more stuff, but you know, I think he is. I do. I think he's done a nice job.”

They love him in space; it's another way to put him in that situation

He had 300 touches for 1, 331 yards and 10 touchdown last year. He had 258 carries for 1,037 yards and seven touchdown in his first 1,000 yard rushing campaign.

The former Memphis star has never returned kicks or punts in a football game. He returned 23 kicks for 645 yards and one touchdown in his last year with the tigers.

There have been doubts about his backfield role this summer.

During the team's Week 2 preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brian Robinson worked with the starter. Robinson was the first one back on the field.

It looks like Robinson is working his way into a regular-season running back role. On August 23, Ben Standig wrote the following.

We wondered about the backfield usage. The 1,000-yard running back worked on special teams last week after his head coach told him to run more aggressively. Brian Robinson is a third-round pick, so his hold on theRB1 spot is questionable. Robinson appears to be the more consistent of the two because his odds have improved.

That is more of an optimistic picture than the one Sam Fortier of the Washington Post painted last week, when he reported that Gibson was working on the punt team.

Sam Fortier @Sam4TR

Punt*** not punt block

The Commanders have an unofficial depth chart that shows the top three running backs. Alex Erickson is slated to be the top kick returner, but that could change based on Rivera's comments.

There is reason to wonder if an increase in special teams usage is a sign that he is not going to be used a lot in the backfield. The Commanders used McKissic more in the pass game than they did in the back, with the former back seeing more targets than he did.

With Robinson now in the backfield, this could end up being a committee situation for Washington as they look for their second title in three years.