Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins set to make first NFL start vs. Buffalo

Redskins rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins is slated to make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Bill Callahan made it official in his press conference on Friday.

The Washington Redskins were left with a quarterback quandary pursuant to the conclusion of their Thursday Night Football loss against the Minnesota Vikings. Case Keenum left the game with a concussion suffered in the first half, forcing rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins to finish out the contest.

Haskins would go on to throw 31 yards on five completions, along with one interception. His unsteady performance left doubts as to who would start for the team’s Week 9 bout in Buffalo. Haskins clearly has more ground to gain, but with Keenum in concussion protocol, nothing was a given.

Now, however, we have confirmation that Haskins will finally get his first NFL start. Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan revealed in his press conference that Case Keenum is out for Sunday, as he’s still experiencing the effects of his concussion.

The anticipation has been mounting for Haskins’ first start since the beginning of the 2019 regular season, and while his first action has been shaky, it’s hard to ask for flawlessness from a first-year signal caller in an uneasy situation. Now, he’ll have several days to prepare with the first-team and  go into Sunday’s matchup with the confidence of the coaching staff as the team’s starter. The only question is, will he be able to maintain the role?

Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell expressed his own confidence in Haskins at the podium, saying that Haskins was spending a great deal of energy preparing for his first start. Per O’Connell, Haskins has been “very focused and intense” in his film review habits, studying, and question asking.

Sooner or later, Washington was going to have to turn the page to Haskins, and Week 9 against Buffalo is the perfect time to do so. Haskins will gain valuable experience against a stout defense, and he’ll have a bye week to reflect on what he learned.

Based on previous comments by Callahan, some might have preferred that Haskins sit out for most, if not all, of the 2019 regular season. But now, with Keenum out, Haskins will be able to get live reps as a starter, something he responded positively to, both in his final year of college and in preseason.

Will Haskins be able to make the most of this opportunity, and will the coaching staff proceed forward with the proper care and procedural awareness? Time will yield us the answers to those questions.