Washington Considering Benching QB Dwayne Haskins If Struggles Continue

According to Ian Rapoport, the Washington Football Team wants to see improvement from former first-round QB Dwayne Haskins soon or a benching is very much on the table. 

Rapoport adds if Haskins plays too poorly against the Ravens today, HC Ron Rivera could go with backup QB Kyle Allen sooner rather than later. 

The team apparently met with Haskins this week to let him know his play has to improve. He threw three interceptions in a winnable game against the Browns last week. 

“There’s a frustration to it,” Rivera said Monday on the Washington Football Talk podcast. “Right now, I’m at the position where we have to see the growth. If we never play him, he never grows, but there is a point where you say, ‘OK, maybe taking a step back and watching is the best thing for you now.’ We will see.” 

Washington is actually tied for first place in the NFC East right now despite a 1-2 record, and with the next five games against the Rams, the Giants twice, the Cowboys and the Lions, Rapoport says Washington could turn to Allen to try and take advantage of that window of opportunity. 

“We have to look where we are right now and say, ‘Gosh, we might be in position,’” Rivera said. “That’s something you have to think about as well. It will play into [the quarterback decision], trust me. I went through this in 2014.”

Haskins was the only quarterback to take first-team reps during training camp this summer. However, Allen took over as the starter last year for OC Scott Turner in the same offense with the Panthers. 

Haskins, 23, was selected by Washington with the No. 14 overall pick after many believed he would end up being a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. According to OverTheCap.com, Haskins received a four-year, $14,416,600 rookie contract that included an $8,504,800 signing bonus. 

Haskins’ contract includes a fifth-year option for Washington to pick up in 2022.

In 2020, Haskins has started three games for Washington and completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 625 yards to go along with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 27 yards. 

We’ll have more on Haskins as the news is available.