ASHBURN, Va. — Washington running back Antonio Gibson said Friday that he has a stress fracture in his shin but isn’t in much pain and has been able to play through the injury. The team listed Gibson as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints after he was limited in Friday’s practice.
Gibson was seen wearing a shin splint as he addressed reporters. He said he wears the splint four hours per day as part of his rehab and has focused on resting. He told reporters that he was in less pain compared to the toe injury that sidelined him for a portion of last season.
“My shin, I don’t think it’s really that bad, honestly,” Gibson said. “They just give me some rest on it and just taking it day by day.”
Gibson first popped up on the injury report with a shin injury last week. Coach Ron Rivera said Gibson’s leg was kicked in a Week 3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was also listed as questionable for Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, though he went on to play 37 snaps, 55% of the team’s offensive plays.
As Gibson deals with the injury, Washington has altered the running back’s practice schedule. Over the last two weeks, Gibson has missed practice twice (Thursday last week, Wednesday this week) and was limited three times (Friday last week, Thursday and Friday this week).
Gibson’s playing time has slightly decreased in that span. He went from playing 60% and 65% of the snaps in Weeks 1 and 2 to 57% and 55% in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively. Part of that split, however, is unrelated to Gibson’s injury. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner values running back J.D. McKissic, and Washington has used both players as weapons on offense.
On the season, Gibson has played 59% of the snaps to McKissic’s 41%.
Through four games, Gibson has rushed for 253 yards on 59 carries and a touchdown. He also has eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Gibson was one of four players listed as questionable for the Saints game. Defensive tackle Daron Payne (toe), linebacker Cole Holcomb (shoulder) and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (groin) were also uncertain.
Payne was a late addition to the injury report. Rivera said that Payne had an “issue with his toe,” adding it flared up in the morning before practice.
“He participated in our walkthrough, but we wanted to keep him off his feet in practice,” Rivera said. “… We will check on it again [Saturday] after he gets treatment this afternoon.”
All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff and wide receivers Dyami Brown (knee) and Cam Sims (hamstring) were ruled out.
