Ron Rivera is already understandably concerned about injuries to his team.
Speaking with the media Thursday, the Commanders third-year head coach spoke of being very thin at tight end, center and guard. But the preseason rolls forward, so Rivera knows he has to put a team on the field Saturday against the Chiefs in Kansas City (4 p.m. ET kickoff).
Rivera even mentioned he might need to play offensive linemen at tight end and report in eligible.
Perhaps the biggest personnel story this week has been Antonio Gibson. So when asked if Gibson might play special teams Saturday, Rivera responded, “This one thing you guys need to understand is that once we get into the regular season, everybody is involved in special teams. AG did it last year. So for the most part, you know, this is nothing new. It’s just, you guys see it. So now it becomes a news story.”
When asked how many reps starters will take against the Chiefs, Rivera was clear, “I really don’t know. A lot of it has to do with the health of specific players. When we do certain things on the offensive side, it’s going to impact how all the other guys play.”
Rivera understandably is already thinking how much he should risk starting quarterback Carson Wentz in a preseason game. But with Washington being thin at center and guard, he was asked if that might affect how much Wentz plays. “Absolutely. That’s exactly what I’m getting at.”
Along with Gibson, rookie Jahan Dotson has also been getting returner reps this week. Might he be returning some Saturday? “It’s something to think about. We know who he is. We know what he is capable of, but at the same time, we want to make sure he’s comfortable back there. So we’ll see how it unfolds come game time.”
Rivera attempted to convey clearly to the media that some starters have to be ready to play special teams during the regular season when pressed.
“Well, it’s about need more than there’s anything else. We get into game situations, and something happens; if they’ve gotten no reps at it and you got to put ’em in there, you’ve kind of screwed yourself. So as I alluded to earlier, that’s one things that’ll happen. You guys won’t see when we get into the regular season, a lot of our veteran players, a lot of our starting players will have backup roles in specific special teams.”
The former Carolina Panthers head coach (2011-19) was asked why number three QB Sam Howell was getting some reps against the starting defense. “Just to see how he handles it, you know, does he step up to the plate? And that’s what you want to see. You want to see a guy take it to another level. It’s one of those things that if you never throw ’em in there, you never find out.”
RB J.D. McKissic missed practice Thursday. Rivera stated, “J.D. has had a little tightness in his groin, so we just want be careful, you know. We’ve got 48 hours before we play, and we don’t want to expose him.” Rivera also expressed that offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr had an excused day, Thursday.
Some concern has been raised regarding how Gibson might be responding to adversity. “I think he’s been fine. I think he’s worked on some things individually. He’s taken his reps the way I think you should take them and he’s continued to do that. And the biggest thing more so than anything else is, and I’ve said it to you guys, this is more than a one-back league. I mean, you’ve got to have guys that have specific skill sets, all three of our top three backs, all have a different skill set and, you know, that’s the important thing for how you’re going to use them.”