LANDOVER, Md. – Washington football team defender Dwayne Haskins opened the day as a starter with a chance to redeem himself. He came out with many questions about his future, calling last week the hardest of his life.
Washington defeated Haskins in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He completed 14 of 28 passes for 154 meters and two interceptions.
“Definitely the hardest week of my life. I just want to go back and move forward and pray and bring my life together,” Haskins said. “I can’t put into words how I feel now.”
Coach Ron Rivera is not yet sure who will start next season’s final next Sunday for Washington (6-9) in Philadelphia. If Alex Smith’s right calf is healthy, then he will start. But if Smith can’t play, Rivera was unconfigurable as to who would start.
“You sign up for this job, so that’s what it is,” said Haskins, who spoke to reporters at home after Sunday’s loss. “Sometimes being human isn’t enough. You have to take on responsibilities and mistakes and put your best foot forward and pray for an opportunity … You never know when you’ll get another one.”
Sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN that Haskins had not turned down requests to speak to the media and was informed that backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke would meet with reporters and that Haskins could go home.
Haskins was disappointed during his video conference call, clearly understanding the opportunity missed just a week after receiving it.
But after violating another COVID-19 protocol – he did not wear a mask at his girlfriend’s birthday party, which was attended by more than 10 people – he was fined $ 40,000 and removed from the captaincy. Then, on Sunday, he was in the chair.
“I didn’t succeed in anything, so I decided to make the change,” Rivera said.
Rivera had hoped Smith would be able to return on Sunday. After missing last week’s game with a straight tense calf, Smith fully trained on Friday, but felt painful on Saturday.
“It simply came to our notice then [Smith would play], and it didn’t work, “Rivera said.
Over time, Rivera was clear that Haskins would start if Smith could not play. The other options were novice agent Steven Montez, who has never played a shot in a game, and Heinicke, who has never played in an NFL game since 2018 and spent last winter in the XFL.
But Heinicke was offended by Washington after playing for coordinator Scott Turner with both Carolina and Minnesota. Rivera finally called on Heinicke in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, and he responded by completing 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Rivera said he did not make the move earlier because of the way Haskins finished against Seattle last week, when he completed 23 of 31 passes for 197 yards in the second half of a 20-15 loss.
“I wanted to see him come out in the third trimester and see if he can take over the energy he had last week,” Rivera said.
That didn’t happen.
“I just didn’t click,” Haskins said. “I wish I could go back and change some things, but now it’s over.”
When asked what he wanted to see from Haskins, Rivera offered a word: “Improvement.”
Sunday was not the time to fully assess Haskins’ future. But his season did not go as he or Rivera had hoped. Several sources said that the choice of the draft in the first round of 2019 must be much better prepared as an NFL defender and that they want it to mature. Haskins has two years left on his rookie contract and did not feel like looking beyond this season.
“It’s not a question to answer,” he said. “I’m here. I’m looking forward to next week.”