Robert Griffin III's surprise scratch from the lineup Saturday may have been a harbinger of things to come, as the team plans on keeping Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback into the regular season, Washington head coach Jay Gruden announced on Monday.
Kirk Cousins named starting QB for Washington
Washington is preparing to start Kirk Cousins in the team’s regular season opener, raising doubts about the team’s commitment to Robert Griffin III.
Albert Breer of NFL Network confirmed an earlier report from ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini that Washington players had been told in a team meeting that Cousins will be the Week 1 starter. The job is likely his for the long-term too, according to Gruden.
“He’s the best quarterback on our roster at this time,” Gruden said. “He’s earned the right to be our starter for 2015.”
Russini and Adam Schefter also reported Sunday that high-ranking members of the Washington organization want to move on from Griffin, but are meeting resistance from ownership. Gruden denied reports that the team could look to trade Griffin on Monday, telling reporters that he is a player he likes who still has a place on the team’s roster.
Griffin’s contract could prevent Washington from dealing him away, because he has an injury guarantee of $16.1 million for 2016.
After absorbing a ton of punishment in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions, Griffin left with what was eventually called a minor concussion and shoulder stinger. However, that diagnosis came after Washington color commentator Joe Theismann told viewers watching that the quarterback cleared concussion protocol, but wouldn't return to the game.
While he was quickly cleared to return to practice and start on Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens, one day before the game he suddenly wasn't cleared anymore, and a neuropsychologist decided he should sit out and be re-tested in "one-two weeks."
Shortly after the news broke that Griffin wasn’t actually cleared, the quarterback took to Twitter to share his disappointment:
Trusting in God even when I don't understand why certain things happen. James 1:2-3 (NLT)
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 28, 2015 According to Albert Breer of NFL Network, the team insists that injury is the only reason Griffin sat out. However, ESPN’s Ed Werder says that Washington general manager Scot McCloughan is determined to change the team’s culture and moving on from Griffin is part of that.
Of course, Cousins playing well would be the easiest way to reach that goal. He threw an interception in his first series Saturday against Baltimore, but finished strongly -- completing 20 of 27 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown on the night.
In the three seasons since Washington selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Cousins has started nine games for the team, posting a 2-7 record. In 2014, Cousins was benched in favor of Colt McCoy after struggling to replace Griffin, finishing the year with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
McCoy is still the other quarterback on the team’s roster and finished 2014 with four touchdowns and three interceptions, posting a 1-3 record in four starts.
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