The future of the quarterback position of the Washington Redskins is really anyone's guess at this point. The team is now on their third starting quarterback after Kirk Cousins was benched for Colt McCoy on Sunday. Most NFL fans likely forgot McCoy was even on a roster to begin with until he stepped in and threw a touchdown pass. With Robert Griffin III nearing a return from a dislocated ankle, the future of the position is up in the air. Head coach Jay Gruden notes that he could have three starting quarterback options in a few weeks.
The benching of Cousins was something everyone saw coming. The backup quarterback, once hyped as the potential replacement of Griffin, was leading the league in interceptions and seemingly taking the offense nowhere. Cousins got one more interception in against the Tennessee Titans, pushing his total to 11 in seven games, forcing Gruden to make a move. In comes McCoy, who has bounced around on several teams since entering the NFL. He got to work with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon.
McCoy finished the day going 11 of 12 for 128 yards, but more importantly, he put together the drive that led to a game-winning field goal. Cousins had yet to get the Redskins a win in his time as a starter. So where does that leave the Redskins? Gruden had previously believed that Cousins would be the quarterback for the remainder of the season, noting that the hot hand will continue to get the start. However, McCoy has the hot hand at the moment, so does he continue to get the starter?
"It's been two years, and I don't want to get emotional," McCoy said, via ESPN.com. "But I'm just thankful that I've hung in there and kept fighting. I think it's good for us, because I think we forgot how it feels to win. They say it's Tennessee Titans and we're supposed to win, but it's so hard to win."
Life does not get easier for the Redskins. The teams have the Dallas Cowboys next on the schedule and they are the hot team in the league right now. Gruden does not have much time to figure out the quarterback position. The head coach made note that he thought Cousins was doing some good things with the offense, but with ball security being any issue, he had to make a move. Now, Griffin will get thrown into the mix when he returns healthy. The quarterback has been participating in individual drills, but he was struggling before the injury and could continue that upon return. Gruden does not have the answers yet.
"You would like to have your decision made as soon as possible," Gruden said. "Now, you throw Robert into the mix. Robert has a chance to practice on Wednesday and we have to see where he is. See where he is health-wise, and from there I will make a decision from watching the tape of what I'm going to do."
