Antonio

Gandy-Golden

HC Ron Rivera shared that he was surprised by the decision because Gandy-Golden had been doing well in his transition to tight end. That transition followed an uneventful start to Gandy-Golden’s career. After being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, he logged just 11 routes as a rookie and only 83 more in 2021. His conversion to tight end would have had to go spectacularly well for him to make the final 53, which he did not last season. The 24-year-old plans to return to school and finish his education.

Gandy-Golden spent the first month of the season on Washington’s practice squad. He was elevated the past two weeks but played just 11 snaps. With Curtis Samuel (shin) and Cam Sims (hamstring) sidelined, the 2020 fourth-rounder should see time in four-wide sets.

Gandy-Golden’s promotion for Week 6 against Kansas City could mean Terry McLaurin is on the wrong side of questionable following a hamstring injury at Friday’s practice. Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, however, said he’s confident McLaurin will suit up Sunday against the heinous Chiefs secondary.

A fourth-round pick from Washington’s 2020 draft class, Gandy-Golden caught just one pass as a rookie and failed to produce much in his three preseason appearances this year. Gandy-Golden was a major producer at Liberty but has been unable to convert his massive, 6’4/223, frame into a meaningful role with the Football Team. Washington also waived/released OL David Steinmetz, DL Gabe Wright, DL Daniel Wise, DB Danny Johnson, LB Jordan Kunaszyk, DL William Bradley-King, S Jeremy Reaves, OT David Sharpe, DE Bunmi Rotini, OL Wes Martin, CB Jimmy Moreland, OL Keith Ismael, OL Beau Benzschawel, WR Tony Brown, QB Steven Montez, OL Jon Toth, RB Jonathan Williams, DB Cole Luke, LB Joe Walker, DT Devaroe Lawrence, TE Caleb Wilson, and DB Linden Stephens.

The second-year wideout had a long reception of 18 yards against the Ravens’ backup defense. The big-bodied Gandy-Golden didn’t show much this preseason after a rookie campaign in which he recorded a single grab. Gandy-Golden, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is a long way from fantasy relevance. His spot on the Football Team’s roster is in doubt.

A fourth-round rookie from Liberty, Gandy-Golden rarely saw the field in 2020. He ended the year with just one reception for three yards on seven targets. The leap from a small school to the NFL was too much for Gandy-Golden to handle without a normal rookie offseason. Washington’s receiver room is wide open behind Terry McLaurin, especially with Cam Sims headed for free agency. Gandy-Golden will be 23 years old next year.

Gandy-Golden has been sidelined since Week 6. He’s practiced with the team the last couple weeks and should be active Sunday against the Panthers. Washington released Dontrelle Inman to make room for Gandy-Golden. The fourth-round rookie should see most of his snaps in four-wide sets.

Inman, who has 17 catches on 27 targets this season, looks iffy to play this week against the Giants. It doesn’t matter much for fantasy purposes since the Football Team passing game runs through Terry McLaurin and Logan Thomas. Antonio Gandy-Golden might see a bump in usage if Inman is out.

Haskins is once again a healthy scratch almost a month after losing the Football Team’s starting QB gig. The team fined Haskins this week for violating COVID-19 policy after he made a reservation for a family friend at the team hotel. Kyle Allen will make another start and Alex Smith will serve as his backup. Losing Wright and Antonio Gandy-Golden -- who was recently placed on injured reserve -- should open up a little more opportunity for Dontrelle Inman as the team’s WR2.

Wright has played 71 percent of the Football Team’s offensive snaps over the past four games, seeing the second-most receiver targets behind Terry McLaurin. Wright and Antonio Gandy-Golden (hamstring) being inactive for Washington could mean a few more opportunities for Dontrelle Inman this week against Dallas.