Here is what you need to know on this Thursday, December 29, three days before the Washington Redskins host the New York Giants.
Timeline
—Today's schedule: Practice 10:45; Jay Gruden, Joe Barry, and Sean McVay press conferences, player availability after practice approx. 12:30
—Days until: Giants @ Redskins, New Year’s Day 3; Wild card playoff round starts 9; Division playoff round start 16
Injuries of note:
Injured reserve: S Whitner (quad)
Out: CB Dunbar (concussion), LB Cravens (upper arm), DE Baker (ankle)
Limited: TE Reed (shoulder), RB Kelley (knee)
Latest injury report
Around Redskins Park
Nobody cares: To a man, the Redskins say they don’t care if the Giants’ play their starters or not. They are going to prepare the same way and play the same way regardless of if it’s Eli Manning throwing to Odell Beckham or Josh Johnson going to Roger Lewis. “We want to be ready for their entire roster and anybody that could play,” said Kirk Cousins. “I don’t ever want to be surprised.”
Storm has blown through: There isn’t nearly as much hype over the rematch of Beckham and Josh Norman as there was in Week 3. For his part, Norman is happy about that. “The storm has finally settled down,” he said. “Just regular guys in a regular game you get to see on Sunday.” Jay Gruden isn’t planning on having a talk with Norman about staying with his game on Sunday. “He stays focused on his job, his responsibility and I think he’ll do the same thing against Odell and the Giants,” said Gruden.
McAdoo giving away nothing: The Giants coach tried to be very circumspect about who will play. “The 53-man roster, we’ll activate 46 and we’ll go from there. The starters are going to play,” said McAdoo. “I don’t know any other way to do it.” When asked how much the starters would play, he said, “The game.” The whole game? “The game.” I’m sure you are more than capable of reading between the lines. A rookie head coach is not going to risk letting a key player get injured late in what amounts to an exhibition game for his team.
Jackson says people say what they want to say: In case you haven’t heard, DeSean Jackson is going to be a free agent and he might want to play for the Eagles. While Jackson said that he is focused on getting the Redskins into the playoffs he did admit that he’s looking forward to being able to test the market. “This is the first time in my career I’ll hit the free-agent market, so I’m definitely intrigued about seeing what’s going to happen and test the market and see what’s going on,” he said. “Who knows what will happen?”
Whitner our, Evans in: Safety Donte Whitner, who started nine games, has been put on injured reserve with a quad injury and the team re-signed Josh Evans to take his roster spot. Nobody was really happy with Whitner’s play but you have to wonder if Evans is much of an upgrade. He was on the roster for three games in October and he played zero snaps on defense.
Tandler on Twitter
Quinton Dunbar (concussion) on field for first time in two weeks but appears headed to rehab field. #Redskins pic.twitter.com/KmpRsFC9RY
— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) December 28, 2016
In case you missed it
- Some major injury concerns for the Redskins
- D-Jax focused on Redskins, but 'definitely intrigued' for free ag...
- How much to expect from Giants in Week 17?
- Redskins back in the driver's seat
- NTK: Do the Giants play to win vs. the Redskins?
- Redskins lose safety for season finale and beyond
- Making the case to keep Jay Gruden as head coach long term