Dwayne Haskins’s first snap since he was benched was simple: Take a knee and get the Washington Football Team to halftime up 13-7.
"I really had no idea what was going on,” Haskins said after Washington’s 23-15 victory. “Alex was having some leg trouble and they told me to be ready and then I had time before I was going out there.”
And when starting quarterback Alex Smith, who was dealing with a calf injury, did not return for the opening drive of the second half the fate of Washington’s season was once again in the second-year quarterback’s hands.
“I was just more so excited than anything and grateful we got the win. I'm just grateful and thankful. I'm proud of how our team fought. I'm proud of how our defense played. I'm proud of how my offense rallied around me and how my coaches rallied around me,” Haskins told the media after the game.
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“Tears came to my eyes as I was leaving the field, just thankful to be out on the grass again because I didn’t know I was gonna be out on the grass again,” he said.
And in his first drive on offense, Washington drove 72 yards down the field on 11 plays with Haskins completing two passes for 25 yards. But the drive stalled at the 49ers’ 3-yard line when Haskins failed to convert a third-down pass.
Overall, his play was not stellar. He finished with seven completions on 12 attempts for 51 yards. He didn't turn the ball over, was sacked once, and helped Washington hold on to the win, despite Washington going three-and-out on their last four drives to end the game.
“It wasn't by any means perfect. There were definitely some throws I wish could have been completed, but it's all good,” Haskins said. “We get an opportunity to play next week and whether I'm playing or not, I'm just thankful for this opportunity."
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Haskins posted a QBR of 30.7 and a 68.4 passer rating. Those numbers are poor, but Smith's were worse: 8.0 QBR and 27.7 passer rating in the first half.
“He’s showing growth, and that’s what we’re going to continue to look for,” head coach Ron Rivera said about Haskins.
But for Haskins, playing for the first time in two months and after falling to third on the Washington depth chart was a positive.
"This is the biggest amount of adversity I've faced since coming into the world,” he said, before choking up slightly. “I’m just glad that I’m able to be here right now. I’ll tell you guys that I’m thankful.”
“I’m excited to be first in the division, that’s something that we always wanted to work toward ever since the beginning of the season and it’s right there for us,” Haskins added. “Glad I got to be able to help today. And help propel us forward.”
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