Just when it seemed like the Washington Redskins were ready to head to the future, they instead turned to the past for their starting quarterback this week against the New England Patriots.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden announced on Friday that veteran Colt McCoy will start at quarterback for the team, replacing Chase Keenum under center.
Many believed that this was the perfect time for the Redskins to turn the team over to rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, but Washington will instead give McCoy his first playing time of 2019 against the unbeaten Patriots.
McCoy has been inactive this season while recovering from multiple surgeries to repair a fractured right fibula. McCoy was hurt in his second start last year, a December loss to Philadelphia, just two games after the Redskins lost then-starter Alex Smith to a leg injury.
The former Texas quarterback has played in just 10 games in his six seasons with Washington, throwing eight touchdowns and six interceptions. McCoy played three seasons with Cleveland to start his career before spending a season with San Francisco prior to coming to Washington.
Not Ready Yet
Haskins, the No. 15 pick out of Ohio State in this year’s draft, has been thought of as the heir apparent in Washington since he was selected, but he didn’t see the field for a regular-season game until last week against New York when he came in for Keenum.
The rookie struggled, completing just 9 of 17 passes for 107 yards and no touchdowns, throwing three interceptions in the process. He was also sacked twice.
There is a school of thought that Haskins shouldn’t begin starting against the defending Super Bowl champs, who have been excellent defensively this season. Washington plays winless Miami next week, and unless McCoy has an outstanding game against New England, it’s likely that Haskins would get his first NFL start against the Dolphins.
Haskins threw for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns last season, his only season as a starter at Ohio State. He appeared in only 22 games for the Buckeyes, so it’s not like he has a lot of experience to draw upon.
Meanwhile, Gruden is fighting to win games now in an effort to save his job. Starting a rookie that might take time to develop isn’t his priority, considering he might not be around to reap the benefits of that development.
“Any time you start a quarterback, you are expected to win. There is no developmental process here,” Gruden said earlier this year before the Redskins drafted Haskins. “This is not Triple-A baseball; we’re not trying to develop a pitcher here, we’re trying to win a game right now.”
Growing Impatient
Redskins fans have been clamoring for Haskins to start ever since he was drafted. Keenum was brought in in the offseason knowing that McCoy and Smith wouldn’t be available, at least at the start of the season.
The veteran has passed for 970 yards and seven touchdowns this season, but he’s also thrown four interceptions and been sacked seven times, as the Redskins have yet to win a game.
Keenum is currently nursing a sore foot and has been in a walking boot this week, leading to the new starter against the Patriots. No matter what happens, Redskins fans will still call for Haskins to start, something that Gruden is obviously tired of hearing about.
“No matter what we do with him, we’re going to be wrong,” Gruden said earlier this week, “so it really doesn’t matter.”
