The Facts: Gibson worked on the side field due to a lingering hamstring injury. Rivera stressed the decision was out of an “abundance of caution” but also said a ramp-up plan would occur. He offered no indication of when Gibson would return, though one source said he didn’t imagine a long absence. “We’re not gonna throw (Gibson) out right away and have something happen,” Rivera said. “We wanna make sure there’s nothing lingering.”

Diehards Line: Gibson’s usage is among the intriguing storylines this summer. There’s no knocking the former college receiver’s initial pro production -- 1,832 rushing yards, 78 receptions and 21 total touchdowns. Yet Gibson remains a work-in-progress with reading rush lanes, and his size-speed combination is better suited for more plays outside the tackles. He prepped this offseason accordingly. The 2020 third-round pick focused on limiting what kinds of foods he consumed. With assistance from a personal chef, Gibson dropped his body fat from 18 to 12 percent. Changes in his offseason workouts included stepped-up intensity. That also led to him not completely recovering from a hamstring issue that flared up during the offseason program. Gibson sat out the June 8 OTA session. This followed the RB battling through injuries during his first two seasons, including a shin stress fracture and calf and toe issues last season. ... This bears watching. The Commanders, having already retained pass catching specialist J.D. McKissic, selected Alabama standout Brian Robinson,known for power and ball security, in the third round. At a minimum, Robinson is expected to handle short-yardage work, duties given to Gibson last season following the release of Peyton Barber.