Washington Football Team trainer Ryan Vermillion placed on leave

Washington Football Team head trainer Ryan Vermillion has been placed on administrative leave due to an ongoing criminal investigation. NBC Sports’ JP Finlay broke the news on Monday afternoon.

“Breaking: Federal law enforcement conducted raid at Washington facility last week, team says head trainer Ryan Vermillion ‘placed on administrative leave due to an ongoing criminal investigation that is unrelated to the team,'” Finlay tweeted.

Vermillion is in his second season with Washington

Finlay also reported that Vermillion did not travel with Washington to Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Vermillion is in his second season as Washington’s head athletic trainer. He previously spent 18 years in the same role with the Carolina Panthers. Nine of Vermillion’s 18 season with the Panthers were under Ron Rivera, who is currently Washington’s head coach.

Vermillion, who graduated from Miami, also serves as the team’s Infectious Control Officer. He leads healthy and safety protocols within the organization surrounding COVID-19 protocols.

NBC Sports’ Grant Paulsen reports that the federal investigation has been ongoing for a while.

“The investigation has been going on for some time,” Paulsen tweeted. “I talked to a player who was contacted by a federal agent in the spring with questions about Vermillion’s practices.”

In addition to team facilities, a Loudoun County home was also searched. Residents of the complex reportedly said that they saw U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, per Finlay.

Ron Rivera met with reporters for his weekly press conference Monday afternoon. Rivera was asked multiple times about the ongoing Vermillion situation, but he reiterated that the team has already made a statement and that he would not comment any further.

“Well, I’m not going to comment how I personally feel about what’s going on,” Rivera said. “That’ll go beyond what I need to say.”

Without Vermillion, Rivera said that the team will be working with team doctors to figure out how to replace Vermillion, at least for the immediate future. As the situation goes on, Rivera said that he and the team will continue to focus on what’s important, which is how to win football games.

Washington hosts the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs over the next two weeks.