Dwayne Haskins will start for Redskins vs Buffalo

The rookie signal caller will get his first full game script.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

After a trying eight weeks where not much has seemed to go right, the Washington Redskins are finally ready to get a glimpse of their future. It was announced on Thursday that rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, drafted with the No. 15 selection in April, will get his first career start when Washington travels to Buffalo to take on the Bills.

Haskins has appeared in relief in two games so far this season, but will finally get the starting role as the Redskins look to extract some positives from what has been a 1-7 start to the campaign. He'll become the fifth rookie QB to start a game this season.

Whether or not this is a permanent move is still to be determined. 2019 starter Case Keenum is still in the NFL's concussion protocol after leaving their Week 8 loss to Minnesota.

Haskins came in that game and attempted five passes, including a bad interception. For the season, he is now 12-for-22 passing for 140 yards. He's been picked off four times and has yet to throw his first touchdown as a professional. The Bills have one of the league's top defenses, so he isn't entering the most ideal situation.

Fellow first rounder Kyler Murray has started since Day 1 for the Arizona Cardinals, as is expected for a first overall selection. Daniel Jones has been starting since Week 3 for the division-rival New York Giants. Undrafted rookies Gardner Mishnew (Jaguars) and Devin Hodges (Steelers) have also started games for their organization.

All of them have something in common that Haskins doesn't, extensive college experience. That has been the main rallying cry for those who believed Haskins needed more sideline seasoning before getting under center.

On the flip side of that argument is the belief that quarterbacks can only grow into their fully-realized selves with snaps in live game action. To augment that, getting first-team reps in practice go a long way, and that's something Haskins hasn't been afforded until this week. 


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