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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Redskins Sign Long Snapper Rick Lovato

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With Nick Sundberg currently dealing with a back injury suffered during a workout this week, the Redskins signed first-year long snapper Rick Lovato.

The Washington Redskins on Saturday announced the signing of long snapper Rick Lovato.

In a corresponding move, the team waived defensive lineman Jordan Hill.

With longtime Redskins long snapper Nick Sundberg dealing with a back injury that sidelined him during practice on Thursday and Friday, Washington decided to sign Lovato in case he is needed during the team's Week 11 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Lovato, 24, appeared in two regular season games for the Packers in 2015 along with both of the team's playoff games after being signed to replace the injured Brett Goode last December. He originally entered the professional ranks as a college free agent with the Chicago Bears, spending four months with the team before being released last August.

A product of Old Dominion, Lovato became the first player in school history to appear in an NFL regular season game when he handled snapping duties for the Packers against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 27, 2015.

During his college career, Lovato appeared in all 50 of the Monarchs' games from 2011-14.

As a sophomore in 2012, Lovato earned FCS All-American honors and was named a College Sporting News Fabulous 50 All-American.

If Sundberg can't play Sunday, it will break a streak of 41 straight regular season appearances for the 29-year-old.

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said on Friday that if the team needed to rely on an emergency player at the position in a game, quarterback Colt McCoy would be the guy who would have his number called.

Washington reached this conclusion based on "process of elimination."

"He's pretty good actually. Not much of a blocker, but he's pretty good," Gruden said with a smile. 

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