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Washington Football Team: Five bold predictions vs. Bengals in Week 11

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team reacts as he runs onto the field before a game against the New York Giants at FedExField on November 08, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team reacts as he runs onto the field before a game against the New York Giants at FedExField on November 08, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Nov 15, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Football Team defensive back Jeremy Reaves (39) walks back to the locker room during halftime against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Football Team defensive back Jeremy Reaves (39) walks back to the locker room during halftime against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Jeremy Reaves starts for Washington, generates a turnover

Washington is going to be a bit shorthanded at safety on Sunday. Already down Landon Collins for the season, Deshazor Everett will also be out of action for Washington. That leaves them with only a few safeties on the roster.

Kam Curl will continue to start in place of Landon Collins, but the free safety spot is more up for grabs. Troy Apke, the starter at the beginning of the season, and Jeremy Reaves, a recent practice-squad call-up and veteran who has spent a few seasons in Washington, will be the top options with Kendall Fuller also representing an option if Washington moves him off his corner spot.

That said, it would seem that Reaves is the best option at this point. Washington already knows what it’s getting in Apke: great athleticism but poor angling and instincts at the spot. Moving Fuller wouldn’t be ideal either given how good he has been at corner (with the exception of last week’s game against the Lions).

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Reaves played in nine games for Washington last season and generated 15 tackles and a pass defense while making three starts. He’s a good athlete and when he was on the field, he looked like a potentially solid role player for the team in years to come. He should be tested again and if he’s successful, he can overtake Apke permanently for the top backup spot.

One way that Reaves can prove to be successful would be by generating a turnover. Whether it’s a forced fumble or an interception, Reaves should be looking to make plays when the opportunity presents itself and creating a big play like a turnover would go a long way toward helping him win a spot on this team moving forward.

We’ll soon see if Reaves can do that but either way, Washington fans will just be happy if the play on the back-end of the defense is solid. That’s something that has been lacking at crucial times this season.

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