Washington Football Team: Five players to watch in Week 1

No. 1 – QB Dwayne Haskins

Dwayne Haskins came into the 2020 offseason with no guarantees. The coaching staff that drafted him was gone, along with so many other players. He was coming off an up-and-down rookie season, after which any new coaching staff might have tossed him aside and traded him, in order to clear the way for a new franchise quarterback, a la Josh Rosen.

But that didn’t happen. Ron Rivera came to D.C., and rather than cut ties with Haskins, he saw potential, and implored Haskins to take command and prove himself. Haskins did just that in the months that followed. He remade his body, honed his receiver chemistry, and embraced his role as a leader, ultimately becoming a team captain in his second season, and his first season with the new staff.

Haskins is now poised to have a standout sophomore season, but nationally, the confidence isn’t as palpable. Haskins still has a lot to prove, and it won’t always be easy, with several holes lingering among his supporting cast. But he’s done everything possible to this point to prove himself capable. Now, all that’s left to do is put it on the field.

A competitive performance against the playoff-contending Eagles would be a huge boost for Haskins, not only for his national profile, but also for his confidence moving forward. The first win is always the hardest to get, and with any luck, Haskins will play a hand in Washington getting theirs a little early.