Washington Football Team QB Dwayne Haskins violated COVID protocols

Early in the week, rumors surfaced that Washington Football Team QB Dwayne Haskins had violated COVID protocols, and partied without a mask after the team’s loss to Seattle.

The Washington Football Team is coming off a 20-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Now 6-8, they still control their destiny in the race for the NFC East, but their flexibility is dwindling. Peak performance is needed over the next two weeks, and consequently, so is absolute focus.

The situation surrounding the team’s quarterback position has marred the team’s late-season chances somewhat. Washington lost Alex Smith for Week 15 and was forced to start Dwayne Haskins. Haskins was unable to win, but he did show some progression through the course of the game, and gave cause for measured optimism heading into Week 16.

That optimism, however, is now all but gone, and Haskins’ modest progression has been diluted by yet another off-field incident involving a violation of protocol and team trust.

As mentioned earlier, rumors earlier in the week indicated that Haskins had gone out after the team’s loss, and partied at a strip club without a mask on, exposing himself and his teammates to potential COVID-19 infection.

These rumors were corroborated by photographs, but nothing more. More information was needed. But this morning, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Washington Football Team was aware of Haskins’ actions, and was handling the situation internally. And shortly after, Haskins himself all but confirmed the sequence of events by issuing a public apology to his teammates.

As of now, it’s unclear what will transpire from this incident. Players have been released for COVID-19 violations over the past few months, but Pelissero noted that, to his knowledge, the Washington Football Team has no plans to release Haskins. This is not Haskins’ first COVID violation. Last time, he was fined. A fine is again likely this time, and he could also be suspended.

Beyond the implications levied by the league and the team, this costly act by Haskins could have major ramifications within the locker room. It’s hard to imagine that Haskins’ teammates are pleased with his actions, which put them at risk and showed a disregard for the team’s safety — as a team captain, no less.

This isn’t the first time Haskins has rubbed his teammates the wrong way, either. He may have permanently damaged his trust in the locker room, and if the team doesn’t release him as punishment, they might have to cut ties eventually. Ron Rivera has made it clear that culture is at the top of his priority list in Washington, and Haskins’ actions risk undermining that.

But that’s getting a little too close to speculation at the moment. For now, all we know is that Haskins has apologized, and that the team is choosing to handle the situation internally. From a football perspective, one can only hope that Alex Smith will be ready to start again in Week 16. It’s difficult to see the team rallying behind Haskins after this incident.