WFT RB Antonio Gibson Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 List; Out vs. Eagles
Dec 31, 2021
Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson (24) runs with the ball during an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
The Washington Football Team placed running back Antonio Gibson on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, ruling him out for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Guard Ereck Flowers Sr. was also placed on the reserve list for the season's penultimate game.
Gibson has suited up every game this season for WFT despite dealing with consistent nagging injuries. He has played through a hairline fracture in his shin and a toe injury, among other issues, to rush for 891 yards and six touchdowns while adding 289 yards and three scores on 41 receptions.
Rookie Jaret Patterson will likely get the lion's share of the work with Gibson out of the lineup, though the Washington running back room is worth monitoring over the weekend. Jonathan Williams may also wind up getting some work with third-down back J.D. McKissic on injured reserve.
Gibson will be eligible to return for Week 18's game against the New York Giants regardless of his vaccination status under new NFL rules.
Washington has lost three straight games to fall out of playoff contention and is likely just playing out the string over the final two weeks of the season.
WFT DE Montez Sweat's Brother Anthony Killed in Virginia Shooting
Dec 29, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 21: Montez Sweat #90 of the Washington Football Team looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 21, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The brother of Washington Football Team defensive end Montez Sweat was shot and killed Tuesday in Henrico, Virginia.
Henrico police initially said it received reports of a shooting at 4:09 p.m. ET. Officers responding to the scene found one man who had apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later confirmed the man was Anthony Sweat.
It is rough, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families. We try to make sure that the players understand that we're here for them. We do have a team psychologist and she's available, as well as not just myself but position coaches, coordinators and Malcolm Blacken, who is our director of player development. ... We're there for them.
The Washington Football Team is still reeling from the Dec. 23 car crash involving safety Deshazor Everett. A passenger in the car died from injuries she suffered in the crash, and he suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries as well.
"When you see the things with Shaze and Montez, we're all human, and we're going through things that are much bigger than football," wide receiver Terry McLaurin told reporters.
Sweat, a first-round pick of Washington in 2019, has made 10 appearances for the team this season. His status for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles remains unclear.
WFT's Daron Payne on Altercation with Jonathan Allen: 'S--t Happens...It’s All Good'
Dec 27, 2021
Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne sits on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
The Washington Football Team didn't put up much of a fight on the field during Sunday's 56-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne did on the sidelines when they got into an altercation.
"You got brothers, you all fight don't you," Payne told reporters. "S--t happens. It's all good."
Things were getting chippy between former Alabama and now WFT teammates Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne 😳 pic.twitter.com/WirOvARaGe
NBC's broadcast captured Payne sticking a finger in Allen's face, which prompted the latter to react by throwing a punch. The two were separated in one of the defining moments of the blowout loss.
It is notable Payne compared his relationship with Allen to one between brothers considering they were also teammates at Alabama. They have surely been through plenty of physically demanding games and practices together, and it sounds as if they are "all good" even though emotions ran high in the moment.
Washington also had plenty of reason to be frustrated considering it fell behind 42-7 in the first half and never had a realistic opportunity to win.
That is now three losses in a row for the Football Team after a solid 6-6 start, and it is a long shot to even have a chance to make the playoffs as the No. 11 seed in the NFC standings with the top seven making it to the postseason.
While the defense couldn't stop Dak Prescott and Co. as the quarterback threw four touchdowns and the offense couldn't keep pace against an opportunistic Cowboys defense that picked off Taylor Heinicke twice and returned one for a touchdown, it felt inevitable the fight on the sidelines would be a talking point following the game.
After all, it was a fairly apt metaphor for the Football Team's inability to overcome the slow start and frustration that came with it during the 42-point loss.
Head coach Ron Rivera addressed the altercation as well and told reporters neither player will be disciplined and that the incident happened because of frustration with how the game was unfolding.
Washington is running out of time to turn that frustration around this season but will look to do so in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
WFT's Ron Rivera: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne Altercation Was Result of 'Frustration'
Dec 27, 2021
Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne sits on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Washington Football Team defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne got into an altercation during the second quarter of Sunday's blowout 56-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
The incident occurred following Dallas' third straight touchdown drive, and Washington head coach Ron Rivera told reporters the altercation was the result of frustration.
"Yeah, frustration, you know? Wanting to win," Rivera said when asked if the fight was indicative of bigger picture things. "Having an opportunity for the last few weeks and not being able to get it done. Not being able to have all the pieces in place that you need to go out there and play together. That's what that is. That's guys wanting to compete and wanting to win, more than anything else."
Rivera added that he doesn't anticipate any discipline for either player.
Payne and Allen were talking to each other on the bench before Payne pointed his finger into Allen's head. Allen swiped Payne's hand away, got up and threw a punch at him before the two were separated.
While speaking with reporters after the loss, Payne likened the altercation with Allen to a fight between brothers.
"You got brothers? You guys fight, right?" he said. He added that he and Allen had since worked it out. "It's all good," he said.
Both players played college football together at Alabama from 2015-16. Allen was drafted 17th overall by Washington in 2017 and Payne was taken by the franchise 13th overall in 2018.
Allen and Payne, both starters, have been significant pieces for Washington this season. Allen entered Sunday's game with a team-high 8.5 sacks, in addition to 52 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and 26 quarterback hits. Payne entered with one fumble recovery, 3.5 sacks, 47 tackles, four tackles for a loss and 12 quarterback hits.
Sunday's loss marked a new low for Washington as it didn't go the way the franchise had hoped with a playoff spot on the line. While Washington isn't mathematically eliminated yet, the team has a three percent chance to make the postseason following the loss to Dallas.
Sunday's loss to the Cowboys was Washington's most lopsided since a 52-7 loss to the New England Patriots in October 2007. Tom Brady threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns in that game. On Sunday night, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 330 yards and four scores before Dallas replaced him with second-stringer Cooper Rush in the third quarter with the game all but decided.
Washington dropped to 6-9 (third in NFC East) with the loss and hasn't won a game since a Dec. 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Football Team won the NFC East last season with a losing record, but the Cowboys have already locked up the division title this year.
Dak Prescott's 4 1st-Half TDs Power Cowboys to 56-14 Blowout Win Over WFT
Dec 27, 2021
Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
The Dallas Cowboys already clinched the NFC East title before kickoff, but they still have their sights on the No. 1 seed in the conference thanks to Sunday's dominant 56-14 win over the Washington Football Team.
Dak Prescott led the way for the Cowboys in the NFC East showdown at AT&T Stadium, helping them improve to 11-4 with a fourth consecutive victory. They are one game back of the 12-3 Green Bay Packers and tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams in the race for the NFC's only first-round bye.
Taylor Heinicke, QB, WAS: 7-of-22 passing for 121 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS: 6 carries for 29 yards; 2 catches for 29 yards, 1 TD
Cowboys Answers Any Concern with Explosive First Half
The Cowboys entered Sunday's contest on a three-game winning streak and in the race for the No. 1 seed, but it was still fair to at least wonder about the offense after it failed to score 30 points in six of the previous eight games with Prescott falling short of 300 passing yards in six of his previous seven contests.
Amari Cooper even said during an interview on 105.3 The Fan he was frustrated with the offense's recent struggles, but he was quite involved in the early going as the home team jumped out to a commanding lead.
Throw in first-quarter touchdown passes from Prescott to Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz, and it seemed as if the offensive concerns were suddenly a thing of the past as Dallas hit on every cylinder while immediately seizing control of the game.
The offensive fireworks didn't stop in the second quarter, as the Cowboys jumped out to a stunning 42-7 halftime lead after a touchdown run from Elliott, a trick-play pass from Prescott to offensive tackle Terence Steele, and a touchdown catch from Cooper, who could not have been frustrated with how many looks he saw during the dominant showing.
The defense has been winning games of late and was still impressive in its own right, but the Dallas offense figuring things out is a scary proposition for the rest of the NFC. The depth chart is a laundry list of household names with the potential to take over at a moment's notice, and the unit's full potential was on full display in front of a national audience against Washington.
Frankly, the biggest question of the second half was how long the Cowboys starters would remain in the game after they did more than enough to clinch the win in the early going.
That moment came in the third quarter after the special teams scored to extend the advantage by even more as the NFC East champion's attention turned to the critical two-week stretch to finish the regular season before the final whistle even blew.
Washington Puts Up More Fight on Sidelines Than On Field
It's not often a team can be trailing by 35 points at intermission and the poor play on the field wasn't the biggest concern, but that may have been the case for the Football Team.
After all, defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne—who were teammates at Alabama—got into an altercation on the sidelines that NBC's broadcast caught on camera. Payne appeared to stick a finger in his teammate's face, and Allen retaliated by throwing a punch.
There was a reason frustration was so high for the visitors considering the struggles on both sides of the ball. While the defense couldn't contain Dallas, Taylor Heinicke threw an interception to Trevon Diggs on his first throw after missing the last loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Things were getting chippy between former Alabama and now WFT teammates Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne 😳 pic.twitter.com/WirOvARaGe
Things got worse in the first quarter when DeMarcus Lawrence returned Heinicke's second pick for a touchdown. It was Dallas' franchise-record sixth defensive touchdown of the year and opened up a three-score advantage.
Antonio Gibson provided a bright spot with a touchdown catch and some solid running, but Washington went through one of the worst halves of football one could possibly script and looked like it realized in real time its season was slipping away after what was once a promising start.
The second half was a complete formality for everyone but gamblers and fantasy football players, yet the Football Team somehow managed to find a new low when Corey Clement blocked a punt that Dallas scooped up for a touchdown.
Washington will want to forget about this game as quickly as possible, but the fact it lost twice to the rival Cowboys in a three-game span late in the season will only linger when the offseason arrives.
What's Next?
Both teams are home in Week 17 when the Cowboys face the Arizona Cardinals and the Football Team plays the Eagles.
Jonathan Allen Throws Punch at WFT Teammate Daron Payne During Cowboys Game
Dec 27, 2021
Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott (4) is tackled by Washington Football Team's Daron Payne (94) and Jonathan Allen (93) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are accustomed to playing alongside each other on the defensive side of the ball as former college teammates and current Washington Football Team members.
But the Alabama products looked like anything but friends on the sidelines during Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Frustration was clearly high for the visitors after they fell behind in the first half, and Allen and Payne got into an altercation on the bench. Payne appeared to stick his finger in Allen's face, and the latter retaliated by throwing a punch.
Frankly, it was difficult to script a worse start for the Football Team.
Taylor Heinicke threw an interception to Trevon Diggs on his first pass of the game and then threw a pick-six to DeMarcus Lawrence later in the first quarter. The defense was also invisible for extended stretches, as Dak Prescott threw two touchdowns in the first quarter before Ezekiel Elliott extended the lead with a touchdown run.
Throw in the fact Washington came into this game on a two-game losing streak and on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, and the emotions clearly got the best of the Football Team as they saw their season slip away in the first half of a critical NFC East showdown.
Still, it was shocking to see Allen involved.
After all, he is one of the team's captains and figured to be someone the rest of the defense could turn to when it was in need of leadership. Instead, he was involved in an altercation with his teammate as the Cowboys were seizing control of the game.
There is something to be said for losing one's cool during the heat of the moment, but the sideline fight will surely be seen as emblematic of Washington's collapse assuming it doesn't turn things around and make an unlikely push toward the playoffs.
WFT's Deshazor Everett Hospitalized After Car Crash, Passenger Olivia S. Peters Dies
Dec 24, 2021
Washington Football Team defensive back Deshazor Everett (22) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington Football Team safety
Deshazor Everett suffered "serious but non-life-threatening" injuries in a car crash Thursday night in Loudoun County, Virginia.
His passenger, Olivia S. Peters, died from injuries suffered in the one-car crash.
The Washington Football Team released a
statement Friday morning:
A Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
police report stated the vehicle driven by Everett left the roadway,
struck several trees and rolled over, per ESPN's John Keim. The cause
of the crash remains under investigation.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ Sports
that "so far it does not appear alcohol was a factor" as the probe continues.
WTOP's Matt Small reported the crash happened on a "winding, rural stretch" of road, and investigators
are looking into the speed of the vehicle when the crash occurred.
So far no criminal charges have been
filed in the case.
Everett originally signed with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M
in 2015.
The 29-year-old Louisiana native joined
Washington in August 2015 after being waived by the Bucs. He's played the past seven seasons for the franchise.
He's spent most of his time as a
reserve safety and contributor on special teams, but he's also made
17 career starts on defense.
Everett most recently played in
Tuesday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Report: WFT's Garrett Gilbert to Start vs. Eagles; Heinecke, Allen in COVID Protocols
Dec 21, 2021
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 13: Quarterback Garrett Gilbert #3 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 13, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-16. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Washington Football Team will trot out Garrett Gilbert as its starting quarterback on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, per the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, after Taylor Heinecke and Kyle Allen were unable to clear the league's COVID-19 protocols.
It's a key game for both teams, with each sitting at 6-7 and jockeying for a potential wild-card berth.
It's a tough spot for the 30-year-old Gilbert, who has made just one start in his NFL career and only seven appearances in total after being a sixth-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 draft.
In his lone start for the Dallas Cowboys last season, Gilbert finished 21-of-38 for 243 yards, a touchdown, an interception and two sacks. The Cowboys lost the matchup. For his career, he's thrown for 283 yards, a score and a pick.
Most of his time in the NFL has been spent on practice squads with the Rams, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and the Cowboys.
Washington only signed him on Friday from New England's practice squad. Another practice squad player, Kyle Shurmur, will serve as his backup.
The matchup between Washington and the Eagles was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon but postponed until Tuesday after the WFT's COVID-19 outbreak—one of three games that were postponed this week.
On Saturday, the team had 20 players on the league's Reserve/COVID-19 list, though several players—including key defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat—have since been cleared to play.
Gilbert will face a Philadelphia defense giving up 227.1 passing yards per game (13th) but is tied for 30th with just 21 sacks on the year. Expect the Eagles to dial up the pressure to test the journeyman quarterback on Tuesday.
WFT Brings Own Benches to Eagles Game After Cowboys Brought Theirs to Washington
Dec 21, 2021
Washington Football Team helmets on display before an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
One week after the Dallas Cowboys had custom-made benches shipped to FedEx Field, the Washington Football Team is following their lead for Tuesday's game.
The Football Team had heated benches shipped to Lincoln Financial Field to use against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Per Mitchell Tischler of NBC Sports Washington, Washington reached out to Dragon Seats last week after the Cowboys game to have heated benches made.
Tischler noted the Football Team will use these benches for their final three road games against the Eagles, Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 26) and New York Giants (Jan. 9).
When the Cowboys had benches shipped to FedEx Field for the Dec. 12 game against Washington, it generated some buzz as a new element in the rivalry between the NFC East foes.
As if the #Cowboys couldn’t be any more contemptible, they flew in their own sideline benches for the game … first time and only team that’s ever done that at FedEx … wild #WashingtonFootballpic.twitter.com/Qu46kPmP5P
The actual story isn't as dramatic as that, unfortunately.
ESPN's Todd Archer reported Dallas was informed by the Seattle Seahawks, who played at Washington on Nov. 29, that the heated benches at FedEx Field were working on-and-off throughout the game.
Per DragonSeats.com, the company provides heated benches to 19 different NFL teams. The company began making benches for professional football teams in 1999 when the Cleveland Browns started using them on their sidelines at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Washington plays three of its final four games of the season, including Tuesday's tilt with the Eagles, on the road. It will host Philadelphia at FedEx Field on Jan. 2.
The Football Team and Eagles are tied in the NFC East standings with identical 6-7 records. The winner of Tuesday's game will move into a three-way tie with the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints for the final playoff spot in the NFC.
WFT Activates Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, More from COVID-19 List Ahead of Week 15
Dec 18, 2021
ATLANTA, GA OCTOBER 03: Washington defensive end Jonathan Allen (93) warms up prior to the start of the NFL game between the Washington Football Team and the Atlanta Falcons on October 3rd, 2021 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Washington Football Team activated four players from the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of their Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and defensive ends James Smith-Williams, Montez Sweat and Casey Toohill are all now available to play.
Washington and Philadelphia were originally scheduled to play Sunday, but the NFL moved the contest back by two days because of WFT having 23 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Among those impacted were Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke, leaving Washington without its top two quarterbacks for the time being.
The team signed Garrett Gilbert from the New England Patriots' practice squad and Kyle Shurmur from its own practice squad as options for Tuesday.
"I know [Shurmur] is a smart, young man," head coach Ron Rivera told reporters. "If that's where we have to go ... we have a plan for that. If we go with a more veteran guy in Garrett, we have a guy that knows the system and played last year, some meaningful snaps with Dallas."
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Saturday the WFT hasn't registered additional positive COVID-19 tests, which at least provided a reprieve.
Allen's 7.5 sacks lead the team, while Sweat is second with four. The latter hasn't played since a Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos after suffering a fractured jaw.
