4:58 PM
At a time when it can least afford to lose players, the Washington Football Team continues to add players to the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Washington has placed 14 players on the COVID list this week, including eight on Wednesday, as it prepares to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The teams are 6-7 with Washington holding the seventh and final playoff spot. Ron Rivera said he has not heard about canceling the game.
Nine of the 18 players could have started Sunday. The team has to piece together a lineup for a game that impacts its playoff fate because it has 13 players on injured reserve.
One of the guys told Brandon that someone else had it, and he was like, "Here's another one; there's another one." "Like coach Rivera said, 'Next man up.' They have an opportunity to show everyone what they have.
Washington's strength has been its defensive line, but now it's gone. Five of the top six linemen are on the COVID list, and only tackle Daron Payne is not.
Montez Sweat is also on the list but is on injured reserve with a broken jaw. Sweat would have played last week if he hadn't been positive for the coronaviruses. He is eligible to come off the list Saturday, but he will have to play in a game for the first time since October without a practice.
Several players could be off the list later this week. Jonathan Allen and Tim Settle could be removed from the list. All four players have to test negative twice in 48 hours. Allen and Settle did not show symptoms as of Tuesday night.
Rivera said he is not concerned for himself. Rivera, who battled cancer last year, had said in August that he was not happy with the pace of his players getting vaccine.
He said this week that he has received his booster shot and wears a mask when in a crowd. Rivera said the current situation goes well beyond what they anticipated.
He said nobody expected this variant. It feels like a matter of time because it's spreading so quickly. I don't think anyone expected that. Our thought was that it would be a one-off, and that the guys that hadn't gotten vaccine might have come down with it at some point.
Rivera didn't know if the players testing positive had the new variant. He said that he was speculating.
Ricky Seals-Jones is one of the two healthy tight ends on the roster. The top corner will not be available on Sunday because he was placed on the COVID list. Terry McLaurin and J.D. McKissic are in the concussion protocol.
If he can't play, his replacement, Cam Sims, will be unavailable as well. He was put on the list. The receiver, who has been limited in his return after battling a groin injury, did not practice because of a problem with his hamstrings.
Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke said they have dealt with adversity all year. "We've had guys step up and play; it's just more for this week." We have faith in our guys. I feel good about it, but it should be interesting.
Washington should have four of its original five offensive linemen available, but Rivera said the staff focuses on teaching during the walk-through sessions to get new players caught up.
"You take every able body you have and they all get opportunities to practice, get opportunities in meetings and walk-throughs to make sure they're brought up to speed," Rivera said.
They have to hope others don't test positive.
"I trust the vaccine, so I got it," said the defensive end, who would make his second consecutive start Sunday. I've seen guys come back quickly from being vaccined and their symptoms are normal. I trust my body, I have a good diet, and I did the booster shot, but I won't say I'm not worried. You can't live with fear. I will do my best to stay available.
