Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden clarified a muddled quarterback situation on Monday, naming Kirk Cousins the starting quarterback for the 2015 season.
“It’s Kirk’s team,” Gruden said in a press conference.
The Redskins aren’t waiting for Robert Griffin III to clear concussion protocol. Whenever that happens, he’ll be on the sidelines watching Cousins lead the Redskins offense.
Can’t trust Jay Gruden’s word, he said it was RG3’s team and he was starter no question 2 weeks ago. Colt McCoy should be on standby
— Robert Littal (@BSO) August 31, 2015
The Redskins are actually treating Griffin better now than they have in a while. He now has time to fully recover from his concussion.
Does this mean Griffin’s days as a Redskin are over? Gruden didn’t make it sound that way, even though ESPN reported that the Redskins have had trade discussions involving Griffin but haven’t found any takers.
“His future is with the Washington Redskins,” Gruden said. “There’s been no discussions about letting him go.”
I’ll end this one before it begins: The Jets are not interested in Robert Griffin III, sources tell me. — Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 31, 2015
Going up against regular-season starters Saturday, Cousins completed 20 of 27 passes with a touchdown and an interception in the Redskins’ 31-13 preseason win at Baltimore.
People wondered why the Mike Shanahan-led Redskins took Cousins in the fourth round of the 2012 draft after choosing Griffin No. 2 overall. It was no stroke of genius, but it wasn’t as silly a move as everyone thought. The Redskins traded three first-round picks and a second-round pick to the Rams for the pick they used on Griffin. Cousins provided insurance on that huge investment, and now the Redskins are filing a claim on that policy.
That doesn’t mean Cousins is the Redskins’ franchise quarterback. He’s 2-7 in his career as a starter with 18 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions.
Gruden said, however, that he’s been impressed by Cousins’ growth in his second year in offensive coordinator Sean McVay’s system.
Griffin, meanwhile, hasn’t been able to recapture his 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year form. He threw 20 touchdown passes and only five interceptions that year, but dipped to 16 touchdown passes and 12 picks in 2013 and just four touchdowns with six interceptions in an injury-riddled 2014 season.
There’s a chance that sitting on the bench will light a fire under Griffin. Perhaps it will motivate him to learn the finer points of the quarterback position. But if Gruden is to be believed, it will take an injury for Griffin to get another chance to start for the Redskins.