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Dwayne Haskins

WFT Bumps Dwayne Haskins For Taylor Heinicke

December 28th, 2020 at 10:56am CST by Zachary Links

Washington head coach Ron Rivera says Taylor Heinicke will start at quarterback on Sunday against the Eagles if Alex Smith can’t play. That leaves former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins as the QB3 on the depth chart and possibly inactive for the team’s critical Week 17 game.

[RELATED: Latest On Washington’s Ownership Turmoil]

Haskins couldn’t deliver on Sunday when he started in place of Smith. Heinicke — who hadn’t taken an NFL snap since 2018, replaced him in the fourth quarter. Washington went on to lose 20-13, capping Haskins’ day with 14-of-28 throws completed for 154 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Heinicke, meanwhile, went 12-for-19 for 137 passing yards and one TD.

Heinicke has been on the fringes of the NFL since going undrafted out of Old Dominion. After a brief stop in the XFL, he’s supplanted the once-ballyhooed Haskins on WFT’s depth chart. And, if Smith can’t go, he’ll have a chance to lead them to the playoffs.

Washington can clinch the division with a win over the Eagles on Sunday night. A loss would turn the NFC East race over to the winner of the afternoon Cowboys-Giants tilt.

Washington Will Not Suspend Haskins

December 23rd, 2020 at 1:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Alex Smith remains Washington’s preferred choice to start at quarterback Sunday against the Panthers, but Dwayne Haskins will not face a suspension for breaking COVID-19 protocols.

Ron Rivera said Wednesday the team opted for a fine rather than a suspension. This marks Haskins’ second fine for such a violation this season. The second-year quarterback was seen without a mask at a strip club in photos recently posted to social media.

The team fined Haskins $40K, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), marking the largest known fine doled out to a player for a COVID protocol violation. This is slightly more than half of Haskins’ weekly salary. Haskins’ infraction earlier this season drew a $4K fine.

“There are a lot of things I could’ve done,” Rivera said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala, on Twitter). “But in conversations with the league and looking at things that were done around the league, we felt that we would fine him and move on.”

With Washington still atop the historically woeful NFC East at 6-8, it is not surprising to see the team ensure it will have its primary backup on the field in a critical game. Smith, however, practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday. The team also revoked Haskins’ captaincy, per Rapoport (on Twitter).

Haskins could have been suspended for up to four games because of his violation. No suspension will keep the Ohio State product’s guarantees intact. But his star continues to fall within the organization, which benched the former No. 15 overall pick early in the season and was open to trading him before this year’s deadline.

Washington QB Dwayne Haskins Allegedly Violated COVID-19 Protocols

December 22nd, 2020 at 10:34am CST by Rory Parks

The Washington Football Team can clinch the NFC East if it beats the Panthers this weekend and if the Giants lose to the Ravens. However, WFT’s quarterback situation is suddenly uncertain.

According to John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter), quarterback Dwayne Haskins — who opened the season as the starting signal-caller before being benched in early October — is seen without a mask at a strip club in photos recently posted to social media. Haskins was allegedly at the club after Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks.

Per Keim, the team was aware of the photos yesterday and was trying to decide how to handle the matter. WFT has elected to deal with it internally, but it has been in contact with the union (Twitter links).

It’s worth noting that the team did fine Haskins for a COVID-19 protocol violation earlier this year, when the second-year pro invited a family friend to the team hotel before a game. And as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets, going to a nightclub without personal protective equipment (read: a mask) is considered high-risk conduct punishable by a fine or up to a four-game suspension.

Pelissero adds that Washington has no plans to release Haskins, but if it suspends him, it could potentially void the remainder of the guarantees in Haskins’ fully-guaranteed rookie deal. The Ohio State product has quickly fallen out of favor with WFT, which was reportedly open to trading him before this year’s deadline. Presumably, Haskins will be a trade candidate again this offseason, and a void of his remaining guarantees would also make him a release candidate.

Alex Smith, who has posted a 4-1 record as Washington’s starting QB this year, missed Sunday’s game against Seattle due to a strained calf. His status for this weekend’s critical matchup with Carolina remains in doubt. If Smith is unavailable, and if Haskins were to be suspended, WFT would turn to Taylor Heinicke or UDFA rookie Steven Montez.

On the year, Haskins is just 1-4 with a 77.7 quarterback rating. In Smith’s absence on Sunday, he completed 38 of 55 passes for 295 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He issued a public apology via Twitter this morning.

Washington QB Alex Smith To Miss Week 15

December 18th, 2020 at 12:58pm CST by Rory Parks

After suffering two difficult three-point losses in Weeks 9 and 10, the Washington Football Team has rattled off four wins in a row to put itself in first place in the NFC East. However, WFT will not have its starting QB when it hosts the Seahawks in a critical showdown on Sunday.

Alex Smith left the team’s win over the 49ers last week due to a calf strain in his right leg. Since that’s the same leg that was brutally injured several years ago, the sight of Smith walking to the locker room accompanied by training staff immediately set off alarm bells. As Smith explained, the earlier injury resulted in multiple debridements due to an infection, and there are now no nerves in the muscle at the front of his leg. So while the calf strain is technically unrelated, it is complicated by the earlier procedures (Twitter link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post).

The team had been expressing optimism throughout the week that Smith would be able to play against Seattle, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted this afternoon that Smith was unable to do much of anything at practice today. Washington subsequently ruled Smith out for Sunday’s game, with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports adding that the 36-year-old signal-caller just couldn’t get the calf loosened up enough (Twitter link).

That means that second-year passer Dwayne Haskins will get his first start since Week 4. Haskins has fallen out of favor with the organization, which picked him with the No. 15 overall selection of the 2019 draft, but WFT’s playoff hopes may hang on his right arm.

Haskins completed 7 of 12 passes for 51 yards in relief of Smith against San Francisco.

Washington Open To Trading Dwayne Haskins

November 2nd, 2020 at 8:54am CST by Zachary Links

The Washington Football Team is willing to listen on offers for Dwayne Haskins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter). Of course, that doesn’t come as a huge surprise following Haskins’ benching. 

Haskins, the No. 15 overall pick of the 2019 draft, was demoted from franchise quarterback to the team’s QB3, behind Kyle Allen and Alex Smith. The relationship between Haskins and head coach Ron Rivera has reportedly turned toxic and a fresh start would probably please both sides.

“What they’ll tell you in that building is that [Haskins] is a project who was drafted by the owner and his son,” according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking. “That’s the bottom line there. Allen is their guy. They think he fits their system. They didn’t really want anything to do with Haskins from the beginning.”

Haskins completed just 61% of his passes with four touchdowns against three INTs before he was benched. He had a similarly trying rookie year, with a 58.6% completion rate, seven TDs, and seven INTs across nine games (seven starts).

In Haskins’ defense, Washington’s O-Line didn’t do him any favors in 2020. He also has an affordable contract — he’s owed just $5MM for the remainder of his rookie deal. According to one report, Haskins could be had for anything above a sixth-round pick. If the asking price is really that low, Washington should be able to find a taker for the QB between now and the deadline.

Trade Rumors: Giants, Ryan, Fuller

October 25th, 2020 at 11:07am CST by Rory Parks

After dealing Markus Golden to the Cardinals, it appears the 1-6 Giants have officially declared themselves sellers at this year’s trade deadline. Though GM Dave Gettleman may be reluctant to trade away veteran talent that could theoretically help Big Blue win a few games — and perhaps save Gettleman’s job in the process — players like Evan Engram, Kevin Zeitler, and Golden Tate could be available, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes (though Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says the club is unlikely to deal Engram).

2017 second-round DT Dalvin Tomlinson could also be on the move, per Dunleavy. Tomlinson is playing out the last year of his rookie contract, and while he has expressed interest in staying with the Giants long-term, there has been little progress in contract talks.

As we creep closer to the November 3 deadline, let’s round up a few more trade rumors from around the league:

NFC East Notes: Haskins, Cowboys, Eagles

October 16th, 2020 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dwayne Haskins‘ standing in the Washington organization has plummeted tremendously since the previous regime drafted him 15th overall last year. He is now the team’s third-string quarterback, with both Kyle Allen and Alex Smith leapfrogging him on the depth chart, and trade rumors have emerged. Haskins has clearly not impressed Washington’s coaching staff, and John Keim of ESPN.com notes last year’s staff took issue with the one-year Ohio State sensation as well. Both staffs have communicated concerns about Haskins’ work ethic to the quarterback. This concern surfaced early during Haskins’ rookie season, one that ended with the young passer ranking last in QBR by a considerable margin. Haskins has not made a trade request, and Washington has yet to field any trade calls on him, Keim adds. Although Ron Rivera has publicly backed Haskins, Keim notes both sides appear prepared to move on after one of the quicker auditions for a first-round quarterback in recent history.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • Leighton Vander Esch is progressing closer to beating his recovery timetable. The Cowboys linebacker saw his first post-injury work in pads Friday, and NFL.com’s Jane Slater tweets the third-year defender could well be activated ahead of Monday’s game against the Cardinals. The Cowboys placed Vander Esch on IR after Week 1 because of a broken collarbone. Given a six- to eight-week timetable, Vander Esch returning Monday would mean a mere four-game absence. That would obviously be encouraging for a player who has seen injuries stall his promising career.
  • The Eagles‘ offensive line resides as one of the NFL’s most decimated position groups. Jason Peters, Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo are on IR. The team declared Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson out for Week 6 with an ankle injury. While Johnson’s injury is not expected to require surgery, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane (on Twitter), he will rest it this week against the Ravens. Although Johnson not needing surgery represents good news, the Eagles are down to one original starter — center Jason Kelce — in their lineup against a top-tier Ravens defense.
  • One of the Eagles’ defensive depth pieces returned to practice this week. The Eagles opened Will Parks‘ 21-day activation window. The fifth-year safety has yet to debut for his hometown team. The Eagles placed Parks on IR before Week 1 because of a hamstring injury and have until 4pm CT Saturday to activate him for Week 6.
  • The Cowboys worked out defensive tackle Gabe Wright on Friday. Wright has not played in a regular-season game since the 2018 season. The former fourth-round pick has spent each of his four seasons with a different team — the Lions, Browns, Dolphins and Raiders. The team only has two defensive linemen on its practice squad.

Washington To Trade Dwayne Haskins?

October 11th, 2020 at 9:34am CST by Rory Parks

Although Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins turned in a decent performance against the Ravens last week, head coach Ron Rivera elected to bench the 2019 first-rounder in favor of Kyle Allen. Not only that, Haskins is now the No. 3 QB on the team’s depth chart behind Allen and Alex Smith.

As one might expect, the relationship between Haskins and the WFT coaching staff has turned toxic, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes. The staff did not have a hand in drafting the Ohio State product, who was selected by the prior Washington regime, and as the QB3, Haskins will not get much practice time and will be a healthy scratch most weeks.

One of La Canfora’s sources, who has talked with numerous WFT staffers, said, “[w]hat they’ll tell you in that building is that [Haskins] is a project who was drafted by the owner and his son. That’s the bottom line there. Allen is their guy. They think he fits their system. They didn’t really want anything to do with Haskins from the beginning.”

Multiple sources within the organization believe that Haskins will be traded before the November 3 deadline, and those close to the second-year pro have told him that a trade would be the best outcome for him. At this point, it’s hard to argue with that, though it’s unclear who might be interested and what the trade compensation might be.

Because it plays in such a weak division, Washington believes it has a real chance to be a playoff contender this year. As such, Rivera would like to hand the reins to Smith sooner rather than later, as La Canfora details in a separate piece. The fact that Smith is on a football field at all is nothing short of a miracle, but the staff believes that with another couple of weeks of practice, the 36-year-old will be ready to start once again.

Smith has not played since November 18, 2018, the day he suffered the brutal leg injury that nearly cost him his life.

Washington To Bench Dwayne Haskins

October 7th, 2020 at 8:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Washington Football Team is making a quarterback change. Former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins will be benched in favor of Kyle Allen, as Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweet. Furthermore, Haskins will be moved down to No. 3 on the QB depth chart with Alex Smith taking over as the primary backup. 

Washington tried to tailor the offense to Haskins’ strengths this offseason while giving him all of the first-string reps in practice. So far, that hasn’t panned out. After their comeback win over the Eagles to start the season, WFT has gone without a W in the last three games.

Haskins, the No. 15 overall pick of the 2019 draft, has been sacked a ton — the offensive line is partially to blame, though Haskins has not been able to locate his open targets quickly, either. Between his three interceptions and one fumble against the Browns, Haskins is coming off of a four-turnover game, one that may change the trajectory of his NFL career. All in all, Haskins has completed just 56.4% of his passes with four touchdowns against three INTs.

Washington is set to play the Ravens this week, presenting Allen with a tough task. But, after that, they have a fairly soft stretch that includes the Rams, Giants (2x), Cowboys, and Lions. Ron Rivera & Co. believe that Allen can take advantage of that stretch and put them on the right track.

Meanwhile, this marks yet another remarkable milestone for Smith, who suffered a gruesome leg injury in November of 2018.The injury was thought to be a potential career ender, especially after Smith contracted sepsis. Now healthy, the 36-year-old could be on the verge of taking his first snap in years.

WFT Could Bench QB Dwayne Haskins

October 4th, 2020 at 9:09am CST by Rory Parks

The Washington Football Team is not pleased with how quarterback Dwayne Haskins has performed through the first three games of the season, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says the club could bench Haskins if he does not show improvement soon. In fact, Rapoport hears Haskins could be yanked during the club’s game against the Ravens this afternoon.

Haskins was the 15th-overall pick of the 2019 draft, and WFT gave him all the first-team reps in this year’s training camp while tailoring the offense to his strengths. Washington is not talent-rich on the offensive side of the ball, so not all of the club’s struggles fall on Haskins’ shoulders, but Haskins has certainly had his issues.

Thus far, he has taken too many sacks, has not shown much poise in the pocket, and he turned the ball over four times in last week’s loss to the Browns (three interceptions and one fumble). Although WFT did have an exciting comeback win over the Eagles in Week 1, Haskins has completed just 56.4% of his passes and has thrown four TDs against three picks, good for a 75.7 QB rating.

The Ohio State product had just one season as a starter in college, so it would seem strange that a team like Washington that doesn’t have realistic postseason hopes would pull the plug on him before he has even played a season’s worth of games as a pro. But as Rapoport writes, WFT sees the five games after Baltimore as eminently winnable — the team plays the Rams, the Giants twice, the Cowboys, and the Lions — and the coaching staff might believe current backup Kyle Allen is better-suited to win those games.

Allen was with WFT head coach Ron Rivera and OC Scott Turner in Carolina, so he has more experience with the offense. But Haskins definitely has a higher ceiling than Allen, and the team has much more invested in him. It will be interesting to see if Rivera — who was not with Washington when the club selected Haskins — has a quick hook.

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