Washington To Move Dwayne Haskins Back To Third String QB

Washington HC Ron Rivera told reporters the plan for this week is to start QB Taylor Heinicke if QB Alex Smith can’t play, per Nicki Jhabvala.

That would send QB Dwayne Haskins back to third-string for a pivotal matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday night. If Washington wins, they clinch the NFC East title and a playoff berth. 

Haskins has started the past two games for Washington, both losses. He’s been a disaster off the field and his performance on the field hasn’t been much better. 

A report came out Sunday that Washington is “virtually certain” to move on from Haskins, likely by releasing him, and he did nothing in a loss to the Panthers to dispel that notion.

He was replaced by Heinicke in the second half, who had just recently signed to Washington’s practice squad after being out of football all season, continuing a precipitous fall for the former 2019 first-round pick.  

Haskins, 23, was selected by Washington with the No. 14 overall pick out of Ohio State after many believed he would end up being a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s in the second year of his 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 appeared in six games for Washington and completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,285 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown.

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