Commanders Antonio Gandy-Golden retires; Chase Roullier activated
“What it sounded like in our conversation was that he just wasn’t feeling it anymore,” Rivera said. “And he talked about going back to school and finishing his education and seeing what else is out there for him.”
Kyle Strongin, Gandy-Golden’s agent, did not respond to a request for comment.
In 2020, Gandy-Golden wowed NFL draft experts with a big frame, athleticism and smarts. He was 6-foot-4, 223 pounds and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and did acrobatic, twisting backflips. He majored in graphic design, flew through puzzles (his favorite pastime) and once during a live TV interview answered questions while solving a Rubik’s cube.
But he never found a foothold in the NFL. He missed eight games as a rookie with a hamstring injury, and the next season Washington released him as a final cut during training camp. He re-signed to the practice squad and was eventually elevated to the active roster, though he did not register a stat in 20 snaps over four games. He finishes his career with a catch for three yards and a rush for 22.
“He made some pretty good progress — and during OTAs and minicamp, he showed his ability,” Rivera said. “We felt like this was a guy that might have been a matchup issue for some people. So kind of surprised, but … I love who he is as a young man. I want to wish him the best as he goes back and starts the rest of his life.”
Gandy-Golden’s departure leaves Washington with five healthy tight ends. While starter Logan Thomas (ACL) continues to rehabilitate, John Bates and Cole Turner have taken the most first-team reps. If the team keeps more than three tight ends — it kept four last year and three in 2020 — the competition will be between Sammis Reyes and a pair of undrafted free agents (Curtis Hodges of Arizona State and Armani Rogers of Ohio).
Rivera said running back Antonio Gibson is “fine” after missing practice for the second straight day and that the team wanted to ease him into camp. The 24-year-old dealt with toe and hip injuries last season and a hamstring tweak in minicamp, but his absence does not appear to be related.
Gibson said his absence was a precaution and that he would begin practicing “next week.”
“I don’t want to go out there and say, ‘I’m fine,’ and then I am [messing] around and I had to start back from scratch,” he said. “I’ll take it slow.”
Blender on the interior offensive line
Washington activated starting center Chase Roullier (broken fibula) from the physically unable to perform list after practice Thursday. The move heralds potential shuffling along the interior offensive line at practice Friday.
On Thursday, veteran right guard Trai Turner missed practice with an injury believed to be minor, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Saahdiq Charles instead took first team reps at right guard.
Now offensive line coach John Matsko has a choice to make. He can move veteran interior lineman Wes Schweitzer from center — where he has covered Roullier — back to right guard and create a competition with Turner, or he can keep Schweitzer at center on the second team and bump 2020 fifth-round pick Keith Ismael down to third team.
Curtis Samuel looks like himself again
After an injury-plagued first season in Washington, wide receiver Curtis Samuel looked like his explosive self again — at least for one practice. During the 11-on-11, Samuel ran from left to right as he caught a pass in front of corner Benjamin St-Juste, and as St-Juste closed in on a shape tackle, Samuel planted his right foot on the ground and St. – Just flew by.
Juken was one of the offense’s only bright spots on the day, eliciting a roar from the sideline. Star player Terry McLaurin, who was with Samuel at Ohio State, shouted, “There it is!”
“It gave me flashbacks from college,” McLaurin said. “Most guys catch that ball on a five-yard pass and they can get two or three extra yards. The move he made on a dime … gives you 10 to 12 extra yards with his ability. So it’s cool for other people to see it, get to feel it. He seems to have a good spring in his step. And I know he’s just going to take it one day at a time and continue to build on it and stay healthy. So far he is doing a really good job.”
If Samuel can deliver in the regular season, it would be a much-needed boost to the offense. Last season, Washington tied for 30th in the NFL with just 89 broken tackles on offense, according to the website Football Outsiders.