Both the Washington Football Team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held step-by-step sessions on Tuesday to begin fieldwork for Saturday’s playoff face to face. Although none of the clubs have completed a full training, they are still required to release an injury report that describes the level of participation that the players would have had they had performed one. These reports, although projections, had some heavyweights that are starting the week on the shelf.
For Tampa Bay, receiver Mike Evans is the main injury to watch. He suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in Sunday’s victory over the Falcons, but dodged a bullet when Bruce Arians later noted that there was no structural damage and an MRI revealed hyperextension. Arians said on Tuesday that Evans – along with corner Carlton Davis (groin) – were full participants during the half-speed workout, but added that they would have been prevented had it been a full session, which is why his projections say they were extended.
Along with Evans and Davis, striker Jeremiah Ledbetter (calf), running back LeSean McCoy (uninjured) and linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (knee) were listed as non-participants. Running back Ronald Jones (finger) was a complete race.
As for Washington, quarterback Alex Smith, running back Antonio Gibson and receiver Terry McLaurin are the notable offensive players projected as non-participants on Tuesday. For Smith, he’s still dealing with a calf injury that kept him away for two games before Week 17. Even on his return during the end of the regular season against the Eagles, Smith didn’t look 100%, playing for 162 yards, two touchdowns and two choices.
Coach Ron Rivera told reporters on Tuesday that possibly Rotating Smith and reserve quarterback Taylor Heinicke against Tampa Bay is “something we have to look at seriously.” While nothing about this potential rotation is official, it is being considered in Washington while Smith is still recovering.
While Gibson (toe) and McLaurin (ankle) were listed as non-participants, they were present during the walkthrough. Joining this trio in Washington’s injury report, linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. (knee) and defender Jonathan Allen (unrelated to injury) did not train. Guard Brandon Scherff (shoulder) and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (ankle) were limited.