Redskins coach to stand by Cousins: ‘There’s no quarterback controversy’
Despite Kirk Cousins’s struggles in the Redskins’ loss to the Giants on Thursday, coach Jay Gruden is standing by him as this season’s starting quarterback.
“Kirk was fine,” Gruden said after the game, according to USA Today. “We’ve got to play better around him. There’s no quarterback controversy.”
Robert Griffin III was slated to be the starting quarterback for 2015 until he sustained a concussion during the preseason. When Griffin was still not cleared to play ahead of Washington’s final preseason game, Gruden declared that Cousins would be the starter.
“It’s Kirk’s team,” Gruden said on Aug. 31, adding that he believed Cousins gave his team the best chance to win.
On Thursday, Gruden made it clear he isn’t changing his stance, even in light of Cousins leading the Redskins to a 32–21 loss to New York, dropping their record to 1–2. Cousins completed 30 of 49 passes for 316 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His career total for turnovers now stands at 23 in 514 pass attempts over four seasons.
Griffin, who was listed as inactive for the third week in a row on Thursday, has 23 interceptions in 1,063 pass attempts in three NFL seasons with 40 career touchdowns.
Washington will next take on the Eagles on Oct. 4. - Erin Flynn
From the SI.com Photo Archives
Mouse over each photo to get a pop-up view; click a link to go to the gallery.
Childhood Photos of Famous Athletes
SI's 60 Greatest NFL Photos
Greatest NFL Player By Jersey Number
SI's Best NFL Portraits
Best Win Streak by Franchise
• BASKIN: Kirk Cousins, perennial backup plan, driven by game manager role
