Redskins: While teams change QBs, Dwayne Haskins waits for his shot

As young quarterbacks across the league attain their first NFL starts, the Redskins high-profile rookie remains in wait.

The Washington Redskins chose to sit Dwayne Haskins and roll with Case Keenum to start the 2019 season, feeling as if Keenum, a veteran, gave them the best chance to win. Since that decision was made, Haskins has been keeping a low profile on the bench, while Keenum has at least managed the offense.

Keenum has been adequate in his role as starter, but his current stats (56 for 81, 601 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions) glorify the impact he’s had. He’s been serviceable, but he hasn’t helped the Redskins win like Jay Gruden had hoped, and in Week 2, his inconsistencies were more prevalent. Under pressure, his accuracy was spotty, and he threw several would-be interceptions that were dropped.

Still, Keenum keeps the job for now; the Redskins development plan for Haskins is unclear, but it at least involves easing him into the puzzle. With the quarterback changes happening around the league at the current moment, it’s worth wondering when exactly the Redskins will turn from the present to the future, and start getting Haskins the reps he needs to develop.

Just one day ago, the Giants announced that Daniel Jones would be starting over Eli Manning next week, ending an era in New York, and the Dolphins announced that second-year signal caller Josh Rosen would be taking the reins from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Additionally, injuries across the league have forced teams such as the Steelers, Saints, Jaguars, and Jets to turn the page a bit earlier than expected.

Peer pressure shouldn’t be the reason the Redskins move to Haskins, and Keenum has at least eclipsed the abysmally low bar set by Manning and Fitzpatrick. But all this movement does beg the question: When will Haskins see the field? After the Patriots game? After the bye week? In 2020?

For now, there’s still a slight chance that the Redskins salvage their season in the coaches’ eyes, so Keenum will likely remain the starter at least until the team digs a hole too deep to climb out of. Even now, starting Keenum doesn’t serve much of a purpose, but once that hole is dug, it would only make sense to give Haskins reps and let him experience and feel the game first-hand, especially since the offensive line hasn’t been in shambles in pass protection, like some predicted.

Keenum has kept the offense afloat, and he’s helped develop the team’s young receivers with modest competency. But the future lies with Dwayne Haskins. Around the NFL, losing teams are starting to look to the future. Eventually, inevitably, the Redskins will do the same. When do you think Haskins will start?