Ron Rivera downplays Curtis Samuel, Antonio Gibson injuries at OTAs

The Washington Commanders will wrap organized team activities this week. After the annual offseason tune-up, the team will get a five-day break before it returns for mandatory minicamp from June 14-16. All eyes will be on Terry McLaurin and whether he reports to camp amid his contract holdout.

McLaurin didn’t show up for voluntary workouts, which makes perfect sense considering his standing as an elite receiver and contract situation. In light of his absence, though, rookie first-rounder Jahan Dotson has stolen the show and very clearly become Carson Wentz’s favorite target at OTAs.

There hasn’t been much buzz surrounding Curtis Samuel, but that’s normal for veterans. While Samuel won’t turn 26 until August, he’s entering his fifth season and OTAs are more about highlighting the performances of rookies, sophomores, second-year players and newcomers at important positions.

Lost in the commotion of Jack Del Rio‘s politically-driven controversy, however, was the fact Samuel sat out of Wednesday’s practice. Given Samuel’s injury troubles from 2021, fans might fear the worse, but it doesn’t sound too serious.

Commanders receiver Curtis Samuel sat out of Wednesday’s OTA practice, but it doesn’t seem like a big deal.

According to Ron Rivera, Samuel was given a “rest day out of an abundance of caution,” saying the speedy wideout had a good practice Monday, but came in a little tight Tuesday and decided to keep him out. In an indication this was, in fact, precautionary, Rivera shared his excitement to see  Samuel at minicamp.

For anyone curious, no, this was not a groin issue. After hardly playing last year, Samuel is simply dealing with general soreness. That’s common for most players this early into offseason workouts. For someone who barely saw the field in 2021, though, it was always going to take time to get his legs back underneath him.

We sympathize with Commanders fans whom hit the panic button after they read reports that Samuel was headed to the side field. That almost became an inside joke last year as it’s where Samuel spent most of the season. Even when it seemed like a return was imminent, you would read “Samuel to the side field.”

This particular report actually feels like a non-story. It’s something to monitor, for sure, but Samuel should be back out there for minicamp next week. Who else we’d keep tabs on? Antonio Gibson, who joined Samuel on the side field after Rivera told reporters the running back felt a “twinge in his hamstring.”

While hamstrings are as tricky as they come, Rivera didn’t seem overly concerned about Gibson’s short-term status, saying “We’re just trying to be smart and not let little things become big things as far as both of those guys are concerned.

We’ll provide updates if necessary, obviously, but right now Commanders should operate under the assumption that Samuel and Gibson are missing practice out of an abundance of caution and should be back for minicamp. Like Rivera said, there’s no need to push players to the limit in early June.