LANDOVER | Checking back in wasn’t part of the plan for Antonio Gibson. Originally, Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera wanted to pull the running back, along with the rest of the starters, early in Saturday’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
Then Gibson fumbled. And Rivera decided he needed to send a message.
The Commanders benched Gibson for a drive after he coughed up the ball in the first quarter of Saturday’s 23-21 loss to the Panthers. But after the rest of the starters were pulled, Rivera had the 24-year-old return to the field to play with the backups.