Jay Gruden won't commit to starting quarterback for Week 5: 'We don't have one right now'

Chris Cwik
·Staff writer
Updated

Washington head coach Jay Gruden doesn’t want to reveal who will start at quarterback for the team’s matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 5.

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When asked who would be the team’s quarterback Sunday, Gruden wouldn’t commit to either Case Keenum or Dwayne Haskins.

Either Gruden is being extra secretive about his plans, or he’s unsure who to throw out there when Washington takes on one of the best defenses in the NFL. Through four games, the Patriots’ defense has only allowed one touchdown. The Patriots have the top-ranked defense in the game, according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric.

Keenum, 31, has started all four games for Washington this season, but was pulled from the team’s Week 4 loss to the New York Giants in favor of Haskins. Keenum has thrown 7 touchdowns against 4 interceptions this season. Haskins struggled in his regular-season debut, tossing three interceptions in just 17 attempts.

After being selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the 22-year-old Haskins is the future of the franchise. With Washington already sitting at 0-4, there’s pressure on Gruden to give the youngster a shot so the team and its fans can see what they have.

Considering how well the Patriots’ defense has played, it might not matter who Gruden puts on the field for Week 5. Keenum isn’t the long-term answer, and Haskins might get eaten alive by that defense.

Maybe that’s what Gruden meant when he said the team doesn’t have a starting quarterback right now. It’s not so much that he’s undecided on who will start, it’s more a comment about the bleak state of Washington’s quarterback situation.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik

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