The Washington Commanders could be without a critical part of their offenses for the next week or two, head coach Ron Rivera said Monday.
In assessing the team’s injuries, Rivera discussed rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who injured his hamstring in Sunday’s loss, and noted how he could miss some time.
“Obviously, you wish [DE] Chase [Young] never got hurt,” Rivera said. “You wish he was healthy, and you wish [RB] Brian Robinson was healthy, and you wish [WR] Jahan [Dotson] didn’t have a hamstring that might keep him out for a week or two. But we have 11 guys that we think would go out there and compete.”
Dotson is one of the NFL’s top rookies early in the season, as he has caught four touchdown passes and has at least one TD reception in three of Washington’s four games. Dotson has 12 receptions for 152 yards, along with four touchdowns.
“Well, you know, when they called the holding, he was trying to come out of his break and tried to accelerate, and you could see him grab the back of it,” Rivera said when asked about the level of concern regarding Dotson.
“I’m hoping he caught it before it really became something more so, and I think, I don’t wanna say it’s out of an abundance of caution, but because of there was concern [head trainer] Al [Bellamy] sat him the rest of the way. So we’re just hoping that that thing will settle down in time and it won’t be anything major that lasts longer than a week or two.”
It’s never good when the coach says he “hopes” regarding an injury.
Washington’s passing offense got off to a fast start in the first two weeks but struggled in the past two games. If Dotson can’t go, that likely means more snaps for Cam Sims and Dyami Brown. Sims always produces when he receives an opportunity, and the Commanders are still waiting on Brown to deliver.
