Jay Gruden might have to switch quarterbacks after all
Jay Gruden wasn’t ready to turn things over to rookie Dwayne Haskins, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a quarterback change is no longer coming for the Redskins.
After Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears, which dropped the Redskins to 0-3 with quarterback Case Keenum accounting for five turnovers, head coach Jay Gruden said he wasn’t read to turn to rookie Dwayne Haskins. But a quarterback change might be coming anyway.
As a sure nod to a short week coming off a Monday night game, the Redskins only had a walk through practice on Wednesday. But Keenum missed the session with a foot injury and was projected as a non-participant.
Colt McCoy is coming off a broken leg, but he was expected to return to practice this week and he indeed participated on Wednesday. He probably isn’t close to playing in a game, and at Thursday’s practice he will presumably throw for the first time since August.
Gruden remained committed to Keenum as the starting quarterback, while also acknowledging it’s easily subject to change heading into Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Gruden says he doesn’t know if Colt could come in and pass Haskins for the backup role. Gruden also adds Keenum is still the starter.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 25, 2019
Gruden on Dwayne Haskins - “He better be prepared to play. That’s the role of the backup.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 25, 2019
Real interaction:@JPFinlayNBCS: "Depending on Case's foot, would Dwayne (Haskins) be the starter Sunday?"
— Stephen Whyno 🌴 (@SWhyno) September 25, 2019
Jay Gruden: "Depending on Case's foot, that could be the case. Obviously if Case (Keenum) can't play, then the backup usually does play, depending on how Colt (McCoy) is."
At 0-3, the Redskins have to face the reality that they are far more likely to have a top-five pick in the 2020 NFL Draft than be any sort of playoff contender. Gruden’s job status is a growing question, up to and including the possibility of an in-season firing, but somehow he thinks a healthy Keenum gives him the best chance to win games in the name of continuity.
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With All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams still holding out, installing Haskins as the starting quarterback could be considered high-level malpractice for Washington. But if Keenum can’t get out of a walking boot over the next couple days, and with it safe to say McCoy won’t be in game shape, the quarterback of the future may become the quarterback of the present for the Redskins very quickly this week.