After two weeks of training camp, 30 NFL teams are ready for their first preseason action this week. Dallas and Pittsburgh already kicked off the 2021 preseason in last week’s Hall-of-Fame game.
One of the more controversial debates in NFC circles in recent years revolves around the preseason. With so many players getting hurt in the preseason in previous years, there is always a debate about whether or not to play your best players. Or, if you do play your top players, how long do you let them play?
The Washington Football Team is set to open the preseason on Thursday against the New England Patriots. After practice on Sunday, Rivera was asked how much he expected to play his starters.
“We’re going to play our guys on Thursday, I’ll tell you that right now,” Rivera said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “It’s a great opportunity against a very good football team, well-coached. So I’m excited about that potential. I think that having the three games and having a two-week prep period before the first [regular season] game is going to be good for us to play the guys a little bit more.”
What is he looking for this week?
Rivera noted how important the preseason was in helping determine roster spots. Washington has several players battling to make the 53-man roster at wide receiver, cornerback, and offensive line.
As for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Rivera says the plan was to “play him enough.” That likely means seeing his progress and comfort in Washington’s offense.
Rivera on the 8/12 preseason games at NE: “We’re going to play our guys on Thursday.” For Fitzpatrick he says the goal is to “play him enough.”
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 8, 2021
It will be interesting to see which starters play on Thursday — and for how long.
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