Redskins rookie quarterback Dwane Haskins (Joe Glorioso/All Pro Reels).
Would Redskins’ rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins play or not? That was one of the hot topics heading into the Washington Redskins’ road game against the New York Giants on Sunday.
That question was answered midway through the second quarter in the Redskins’ 24-3 loss in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Down 14-0, head coach Jay Gruden made the call to bench starter Case Keenum in favor of rookie first-round pick Haskins (Bullis). Playing behind a makeshift offensive line depleted by injuries and a holdout, with an ineffective running game and injuries to the team’s best offensive threat, Haskins struggled completing just 9 of 17 passes for 107 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
“Whatever it takes to win, we will do that. I don’t like losing. I never lost. Don’t like losing so we’re going to change that and we’re going to win some games,” Haskins said at his postgame press conference. The Redskins are now 0-4 for the first time since starting 0-5 in 2001.
Haskins’ debut was made more personally disappointing by the fact that he grew up in Highland Park, New Jersey, about 40 miles from the stadium, and had several friends and family members in attendance.
He graduated from Bullis School in Potomac in 2016 leading the Bulldogs to two IAC (Interstate Athletic Conference) championships while throwing for 5,308 yards and 54 touchdowns during his high school career. At Ohio State, Haskins was named Big Ten player of the year and a Heisman Trophy finalist after throwing 50 touchdown passes in 2018.
It rains and pours but the sun will eventually shine. Whatever it takes, that’s my word. More fuel to the fire. Don’t be a fan later 🤝 https://t.co/I8gnIAqYch
— Dwayne Haskins, Jr (@dh_simba7) September 29, 2019
Haskins was the 15th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft in April. He expressed frustration at not being picked higher, saying famously at the time, “The league (the NFL) done messed up.” What made Sunday’s match-up even more relevant was that the Giants, Haskins’ favorite team growing up, passed him up with the sixth overall pick, instead deciding to select Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones started yesterday for the Giants completing 23 of 31 throws with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.
So what’s next for Haskins? Gruden was expected to announce his starting quarterback for this Sunday’s game against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at his regular Monday press conference but he delayed the announcement until after practice on Wednesday.
