Washington canceled its scheduled practice at FedEx Field in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the weekend.
Washington was originally set to practice at its home stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Thursday, wanting to give a chance for its new players to get acclimated before next month’s season-opener. But on Wednesday, the team made the decision to not go through with it.
Coach Ron Rivera said the day instead would be used for reflection in light of the shooting, which happened Sunday.
Washington becomes the second football team to adjust its schedule because of the Blake shooting. The Detroit Lions canceled practice Tuesday and gave a presentation outside their facility to condemn the shooting.
The NBA, meanwhile, postponed its three playoff games Wednesday after the Milwaukee Bucks and other teams decided to boycott because of the incident. Some MLB games were also postponed.
Rivera said he and new team President Jason Wright came up with the plan to cancel practice and then took it to owner Dan Snyder, who gave his approval.
“In place of our practice at FedExField, the players, coaches and football staff will meet as a football family and we will continue our open dialogue on the issues of racism and social injustice in our country,” Rivera said. “Mr. Snyder and Jason will join us in our discussion with the team tomorrow, just as Mr. Snyder and I will support Jason in similar discussions we are planning for members of the business and stadium side of the organization. We are all in this together.
“And as a team, we will work to figure out ways that we can make a positive impact in our communities.”
The team’s decision also came after another tumultuous day for the franchise in which Snyder was accused of humiliating a cheerleader at a charity event in 2004. The accusation was one of a series of new allegations detailed in a story by The Washington Post about the team’s workplace. Snyder has denied the allegations.
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