Washington Football Team: Five players to watch in Week 15
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – QB Dwayne Haskins
It’s official. Alex Smith is out for Sunday, and Dwayne Haskins will get his first start since Week 4.
The news doesn’t come as a total surprise. While the Washington Football Team recently expressed optimism surrounding Smith’s hopes, the right calf injury inherently complicates his mechanics, and makes his return a bit more complicated, relative to other injuries.
But nonetheless, it is notable that we’ll see Haskins in a starting role. And again, opportunity is there for him to claim.
The Seahawks’ pass defense is the worst statistical unit in the league, allowing the most passing yards per game at 294.8. Even with talented additions like Quinton Dunbar and Jamal Adams, their coverage group has struggled to coalesce. Their front is more formidable, but there should be chances for Haskins to produce on Sunday.
The biggest question, extending off of that, is whether Haskins is ready. He had over two months of preparation time before his latest appearance against the 49ers, and in that game, he looked like the same shaky signal caller who’d been benched earlier in the year. His mechanics were poor, and he nearly committed a turnover.
Next. Week 15 a chance for Haskins to show growth. dark
Haskins has received all of the first-team reps this week, so that may factor in to his performance. But his stint against San Francisco left everything to prove. Now, he’ll get another extended opportunity to make amends.