The Washington Football Team is expected to have two key players back for Monday night's home game against the Seattle Seahawks. Receiver Curtis Samuel and tight end Logan Thomas are expected to be in the lineup after missing significant time with injuries, according to Washington coach Ron Rivera. Rivera said that both players would be limited to a snap count against Seattle.
Samuel, whose lingering groin injury has limited him to just two games this season, is currently listed as questionable for Monday night's game. The veteran receiver has been aided by a steroid and anti-inflammatory injection he received last week.
"He's been trending up," Rivera said of Samuel, via ESPN's John Keim. "We feel very comfortable and confident with him."
While Thomas is still on injured reserve, the expectation is that he will be activated in time to face the Seahawks. Thomas, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, returned to practice this past week. The 30-year-old is coming off of the best statistical season of his career. During his first season with Washington, the former Cardinals, Bills and Lions tight end caught 72 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns.
Thomas' contributions last season helped Washington capture its first division title in five years. Thomas was also a key contributor in Washington's loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in the wild-card round. Thomas caught five passes for 74 yards in Washington's 31-23 defeat.
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The return of both players would be a big boost for a Washington team that has won two straight games after a 2-6 start to the season. Washington's passing game continues to run through receiver Terry McLaurin, who leads the team with 54 receptions for 735 yards and five touchdowns. Running back J.D. McKissic is second on the team with 38 receptions for 371 yards.
Washington has received solid play as of late from quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Over the team's past two games, Heinicke has completed nearly 78% of his passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions. In last Sunday's 27-21 win in Carolina, Heinicke went 16 of 22 for 206 yards with three touchdowns. He led Washington on two fourth-quarter scoring drives while helping Rivera defeat his former team for the first time.
Washington is just one game back of the Vikings and Saints in the race to secure one of the NFC's final wild-card playoff spots. They are also a half-game behind the Panthers and Eagles, who are both 5-6 through 11 games. Washington and Philadelphia will face each other two times during a three-week span in games that will likely help determine the NFC playoff field.
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