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Redskins might be cautious, but won’t treat Cowboys game as meaningless Redskins might be cautious, but won’t treat Cowboys game as meaningless
(about 1 hour later)
It’s a new experience for the entire organization. Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden has had four days to devise a plan on how he’ll approach Sunday’s regular-season finale, and he’s planning to use his healthy players with a home playoff game on the horizon. It’s unknown at this point, however, how long some of the Redskins’ key starters will play. It’s a new experience for the entire organization. Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden has had several days to devise a plan for how he will approach Sunday’s regular season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, and he is planning to use his healthy players with a home playoff game on the horizon. It’s unknown at this point, however, how long some of the Redskins’ key starters will play with the team locked into the NFC’s No. 4 seed.
“I have a good feel for it, so we just have to make that determination,” Gruden said. “Number one, it’s the health of our football team with these injured guys who are legitimately injured and can’t play. Then, from there, we’ll have to figure out the able bodies that we have — personnel groupings will be adjusted — and then throughout the course of the game, we’ll make adjustments depending on the situation.”“I have a good feel for it, so we just have to make that determination,” Gruden said. “Number one, it’s the health of our football team with these injured guys who are legitimately injured and can’t play. Then, from there, we’ll have to figure out the able bodies that we have — personnel groupings will be adjusted — and then throughout the course of the game, we’ll make adjustments depending on the situation.”
The Redskins have nine players listed on the injury report, with veterans like Trent Williams (knee/foot), defensive end Jason Hatcher (neck/knee) and safeties Dashon Goldson (shoulder) and DeAngelo Hall (calf) all receiving the day off on Wednesday. If they’re healthy against the Cowboys, Hall and Williams both expressed that they would be ready to play if needed. While the Redskins must have seven players on the inactive list, they won’t have the luxury and suiting up more than 46 players like they could in a preseason game. They’ll need as many healthy bodies as they can to get through the game prior to the first playoff game. The Redskins have nine players listed on the injury report, with veterans like left tackle Trent Williams (knee/foot), defensive end Jason Hatcher (neck/knee) and safeties Dashon Goldson (shoulder/rib) and DeAngelo Hall (calf) all receiving the day off on Wednesday. Hall and Williams both expressed that they would be ready to play against the Cowboys if needed. The Redskins must have seven players on the inactive list, and they won’t have the luxury of suiting up more than 46 players like they could in a preseason game. They will need as many healthy bodies as they can have to get through the game before wild-card weekend.
“I can get more reps under my belt [at safety], and it’s Dallas,” Hall said. “I don’t care if we’re both 0-15, that last game, man, it means a lot. It’s meant a lot the last couple of years, whether it’s them fighting for a spot or us fighting for a spot. It just so happens [we’re] in a position we’re in and where we’re safe, and we know we’ve got a home playoff game. But it’s still Dallas, and you still want to go out there and hit those guys, pick them off, score points and beat them.” “I can get more reps under my belt [at safety], and it’s Dallas,” Hall said. “I don’t care if we’re both 0-15, that last game, man, it means a lot. It’s meant a lot the last couple of years, whether it’s them fighting for a spot or us fighting for a spot. It just so happens [we’re] in a position [where] we’re in and where we’re safe, and we know we’ve got a home playoff game. But it’s still Dallas, and you still want to go out there and hit those guys, pick them off, score points and beat them.”
The Redskins played their way into this scenario after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-24, on Saturday to clinch the division prior to Week 17. It’s the first time they will make the playoffs since 2012, but Washington went 7-25 in-between those playoff berths with consecutive last-place finishes. Though there aren’t any playoff implications on the line, quarterback Kirk Cousins thinks it’s important to play against the Cowboys. The Redskins played their way into this scenario after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-24, on Saturday to clinch the NFC East division with a week to spare. It’s the first time they will make the playoffs since 2012, but the first time they clinched before the final week of the regular season since 1999.
“I’d say that’s a coaches’ decision, not mine, but I can only speak for myself — I feel good, and I want to play,” Cousins said. “I feel as a young player that I want to continue to develop and get a rhythm. I’ll always defer to the head coach with whatever he decides. I think it’s a pretty fluid situation as we go.” Washington went 7-25 in the two seasons between its most recent division titles with consecutive last-place finishes in 2013 and 2014. Though there aren’t any playoff implications on the line Sunday, quarterback Kirk Cousins thinks it’s important to play against the Cowboys.
“I’d say that’s a coaches’ decision, not mine, but I can only speak for myself — I feel good and I want to play,” Cousins said. “I feel as a young player that I want to continue to develop and get a rhythm. I’ll always defer to the head coach with whatever he decides. I think it’s a pretty fluid situation as we go.”
It was a relaxed environment on Wednesday after the team celebrated its accomplishment over the weekend. In the Redskins’ first full practice this week, the players were very loose on the field and in the locker room after practice.It was a relaxed environment on Wednesday after the team celebrated its accomplishment over the weekend. In the Redskins’ first full practice this week, the players were very loose on the field and in the locker room after practice.
“From a mind-frame standpoint, it’s not even close — it’s night and day,” said Williams when asked to compare this Week 17 to previous season finales in his career. “Even in 2012, this week was like last week where win and you’re in. Even at that time, the mind frame was different. It’s night and day knowing that you’re already there, and you’ve just got to finish out the season.” “From a mind-frame standpoint, it’s not even close — it’s night and day,” Williams said when asked to compare this Week 17 to previous season finales in his career. “Even in 2012, this week was like last week where win and you’re in. Even at that time, the mind frame was different. It’s night and day knowing that you’re already there and you’ve just got to finish out the season.”
Regardless of who plays, Gruden made it clear he wants to end the year with another win. The Redskins are currently on a three-game winning streak, their longest streak since winning seven in a row to finish the 2012 season. Washington has won its past two road games and a win at AT&T Stadium would give the team more road wins this season (three) than it had over the past two years combined (two). Regardless of who plays, Gruden made it clear he wants to end the year with another win. The Redskins are currently on a three-game winning streak, their longest streak since winning seven in a row to finish the 2012 season. Washington has won its past two road games, and a win at AT&T Stadium would give the team more road wins this season (three) than it had over the past two years combined (two).
“It’s important for us to be healthy come playoff time, but it is also to have some kind of momentum also going in,” Gruden said. “I’d like to end on a four-game winning streak, win three games in a row on the road, finish the fourth quarter 4-0, [and] finish 9-7. I think it’s a hell of a step in the right direction. The guys are that are able to play are planning on playing and competing.” “It’s important for us to be healthy come playoff time, but it is also to have some kind of momentum also going in,” Gruden said. “I’d like to end on a four-game winning streak, win three games in a row on the road, finish the fourth quarter [of the season] 4-0 [and] finish 9-7. I think it’s a hell of a step in the right direction. The guys that are able to play are planning on playing and competing.”