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Injury is a nasty part of NFL football, and there is perhaps no franchise more familiar with this fact than the Washington football team.
Even the team’s opponents are unlucky when playing in the WFT stadium. Most recently, New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates was the latest to fall victim to what might be called an “injury curse” floating around the franchise.
Of course, sometimes injuries also reveal the rise of a previously unknown talent. Taylor Heinicke’s story is worth watching, although the Washington play hasn’t always been.
READ MORE: How to watch WFT vs NO
There could be another story resulting from an injury rash. This time, within the Washington football team’s wide receiver group.
In August, Washington wide receiver DeAndre Carter made an impact on special teams, leading to a place in the roster.
“He’s done some good things as a receiver in practices and pre-season games,” head coach Ron Rivera said of Carter towards the end of the preseason. “But his return ability is really one of the things that caught our attention … The receiver position was where we went with the idea of trying to improve the speed and we felt really good in it. what we have done…”
We haven’t seen as much of a wide receiver as we have the man back with Carter. But there was a growing sense that he was going to end up doing something big. And it happened in week four, against the Atlanta Falcons.
“It kind of built up,” said WFT special teams coordinator Nat Kaczor when asked about the touchdown return.
The team effort that saw Carter win his first touchdown in the NFL is exactly the kind of thing Washington is going to rely on to deal with a string of injuries, keep trying to figure out how to play better in the game. defense and find consistency in attack.
His versatility and health could lead to another new opportunity for Carter, however …
After playing just 13 offensive snaps in the 2021 NFL season before Week 4, Carter got 11 against the Falcons last weekend.
Not a lot. Especially when you consider wide receiver Curtis Samuel got 25 in his opener after missing the start of the year with a groin injury.
READ MORE: Can WFT stop Alvin Kamara?
Carter got those 11 shots largely because Samuel always comes back and because of injuries sustained in-game by fellow receivers Dyami Brown and Cam Sims.
After his debut in Week 4, Samuel is questionable playing against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Meanwhile, The Sims (Hamstring) and Brown (Knee) are out.
Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is in good health. The same goes for veteran Adam Humphries and rookie Dax Milne.
It is more or less that.
Carter got his first career touchdown last weekend. He also got his first goal and reception of the year, a 24-yard catch that moved the ball to midfield on the disc, which would provide running back JD McKissic’s 30-yard winning score.
Even with the missed time last week, Brown has played 71% of Washington’s offensive snaps so far. Normally, we’d assume the Sims and Humphries would get the lion’s share of the job increase.
Now it looks like the WFT will have to lean on Humphries and Carter, with a bit of Milne dusting too.
Like all teams though, the Washington soccer coaches will be looking for which guys will step up and gain a little more playing time.
It could be a great opportunity for guys like Carter. He has already capitalized on these this year. Why stop now?
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