Commanders News: Ron Rivera, Mitchell Tinsley, Jason Wright and Will Grier
By Dean Jones
Commanders HC Ron Rivera gets questions answered
It came as no surprise to see most starting options and even some primary backups sit out the Washington Commanders' preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals. This is not a time to risk further injuries - especially after what happened to Terry McLaurin on Monday Night Football - so erring on the side of caution allowed those on the fringes a chance to stake one final claim for involvement.
Most positions looked locked up upon further examination of the depth chart. But there's no doubt that this last warmup clash provided some moments that will provoke fierce discussions between those in power before final decisions come to light.
When discussing this after the game, head coach Ron Rivera stated via Nicki Jhabvala from the Washington Post that the coaching staff was keying in on six or seven guys to see what they could do. And it's clear what transpired will hold a lot of weight when push comes to shove.
"We had an idea of about six or seven guys we said we want to see. We want to see what they can do. We knew they were going to get an opportunity to play a lot of plays, and it’s going to help answer some questions for us."
- Ron Rivera via Washington Post
Among the main position battles further down the pecking order centered on the offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, and cornerback unit. Some tough cuts are coming, but Rivera cannot afford to get any move wrong given how much pressure is on his shoulders this season.