The injury and COVID bug continues to hamper the Washington Football Team’s overall health for Sunday’s pivotal divisional clash with the Dallas Cowboys. Washington running back JD McKissic will miss his second consecutive game with a concussion, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The good news is wide receiver Curtis Samuel (groin) is expected to play. But he is likely to be on a snap count as he was each of the last two weeks since he returned.
Meanwhile, the bigger concern is McKissic. He suffered a concussion in Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks. He did not play in Washington’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
His absence adds to a list of key players who won’t play for Washington against Dallas. Tight end Logan Thomas was placed on injured reserve this week with a season-ending knee injury.
Defensive end Montez Sweat’s return from IR has been delayed by COVID-19. The team will also be without defensive end Jason Smith-Williams who was added to the reserved/COVID-19 list on Saturday.
Thomas and McKissic both being out will limit Washington’s passing offense. Not having McKissic will once again put a larger load on running back Antonio Gibson.
Gibson has had 64 touches in the last two weeks combined in large as a direct result of McKissic being out.
Third down is where McKissic will be missed the most. Recently signed Wendell Smallwood played five offensive snaps last week against the Raiders, catching two passes for 12 yards.
However, Smallwood came out of the game a “little sore,” according to Washington head coach Ron Rivera. Washington signed Jonathan Williams off the practice squad this week as an insurance.
It’ll be hard to trust either Williams or Smallwood duplicating the level of McKissic’s production
