The Washington Commanders take the field for their final preseason game on Saturday when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town. There isn’t a lot of intrigue surrounding the game, as the Commanders have several players dealing with injuries. The Bengals and almost every other NFL team likely are, too, as teams prepare for next week’s deadline to trim the roster to 53 players.
Before practice on Thursday, head coach Ron Rivera gave some updates on multiple Commanders dealing with injuries.
Wide receiver Dax Milne, who is battling for one of the final spots at wide receiver, is dealing with an injury he suffered in Monday’s preseason game against the Ravens.
“Dax Milne suffered a little bit of a groin injury,” Rivera said. “I don’t want to say more of a setback. He played initially, and near the end, he had a little bit of tightness and stuff like that. He had a little bit of a setback, and we’ll monitor him.”
While the Commanders know Milne well, he is a player who would likely benefit from the final preseason game.
What about tight end Logan Thomas?
[Defensive tackle] Phidarian [Mathis] and Logan [Thomas] are both continuing to rehab and treat their calf injuries,” Rivera said. “I know you guys saw Logan out there doing individual, he’ll come out and do some individual as well. He’s progressed very, very nicely.”
Thomas sounds like he is close to a return.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who injured his toe in Monday’s game, remains day-to-day. The Commanders are obviously going to be extremely cautious with McLaurin and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen [plantar fasciitis] and keep them sidelined until preparation for Week 1 begins. There is no need to push either.
Rivera also offered a positive update on defensive end Chase Young, who suffered a stinger in the preseason opener two weeks ago.
“It was good to see Chase out on the field,” he said. “We did some work. We let everybody know that we are keeping our heads out of contact so he can get some work and continue with his rehab. We are just waiting on his final exam to get him back out on the field.”
Young has been doing almost everything except contact, so he should be back for Week 1.
Starting cornerback Kendall Fuller has also been dealing with knee soreness. Like McLaurin and Allen, it’s best to rest Fuller instead of pushing him. Washington knows what it has in Fuller.
A long list of “nicks,” as Rivera called it last week, but fortunately, nothing is serious. The Commanders and the rest of the NFL will trim rosters from 90 to 53 players next Tuesday, and then attention turns to Week 1.
