Washington to put Curtis Samuel on IR

After all, Washington wide receiver Curtis Samuel won’t be preparing for Sunday’s game with the Chargers.

Head coach Ron Rivera told his press conference on Friday that Samuel will be placed on the injured list.

Rivera has made it clear that it should be a short-term stint on the roster for Samuel, who has recovered from a groin injury. The team registered him as a non-participant for practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Samuel missed time at training camp while on the COVID-19 roster and Rivera said this put the receiver behind in some aspects of his rehab.

“[We’re] giving him the opportunity to really go out and push himself and not worry about how he feels the next day before the next game, ”said Rivera. “So we want to create this opportunity, take it and let him really focus on his health before he has to worry about playing.”

Rivera also noted that he was “very comfortable” that it would only last a few weeks for Samuel in IR and that the surgery was “not even on the table.”

Samuel signed with the soccer team in the spring after four years with the Panthers, including three under Rivera. He recorded 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first time last season – 851 receptions, 200 rushing – and recorded five total touchdowns.