Jay Gruden Confirms RGIII Will Be The Starter Once Cleared

Redskins HC Jay Gruden confirmed that Robert Griffin III will be the team’s starting quarterback as soon as he’s cleared and ready to return, per Mike Jones.

• Gruden added that RGIII could be back in one week or as many as five weeks.
• Gruden said that he isn’t sure how long it will take for Griffin to be ready enough to return to the starting lineup, per Mike Jones.

Gruden previously left the door open for Kirk Cousins to win the job while filling in for RGIII. However, Cousins has been underwhelming in recent weeks, so this probably doesn’t come as a huge surprise.

There has been speculation that RGIII could return for the team’s Week 8 match up against the Cowboys. Griffin returned to practice this week and “looked fine” during on-field drills Wednesday, according to Gruden.

Cousins said he’s not concerned about RGIII getting closer to returning from a dislocated ankle.

“It can’t affect my preparation,” Cousins said, via John Keim of ESPN.com. “If it does, I’m not going to be where I need to be. He needs to get ready, he needs to do what he needs to do to be ready to go. However that gets worked out is great for the team. I’ll do the best I can with the reps I get and go back to controlling what I can control… and not worrying about what I can’t change.”

Cousins, 26, has completed 61.7 percent of his passes this season for 1,571 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Pro Football Focus has Cousins rated as the No. 27 quarterback out of 38 qualifying players.

Washington has lost four straight games.