Quarterback Dwayne Haskins will start the Washington Football Team’s home game against the visiting Carolina Panthers on Sunday, according to multiple media outlets.
Haskins received the starter’s repetitions in practice throughout the week. He reportedly is getting the nod because fellow quarterback Alex Smith is not quite ready to return to action.
Smith, who was listed as a full participant in practice on Friday, has been sidelined since injuring his right calf in Washington’s 23-15 victory over San Francisco on Dec. 13.
Haskins, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, completed 38 of 55 passes for 295 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in Washington’s 20-15 home loss to Seattle last Sunday. He was then spotted at a strip club on Sunday night without following proper COVID-19 protocols. He was fined $40,000 by the team and stripped of his captaincy.
In six games (five starts) this season, Haskins has completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,285 yards with five TDs and five picks.
Smith, 36, is 4-1 since taking over as the starter in Week 10. After missing all of 2019 recovering from a leg injury and a life-threatening infection, he has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 1,420 yards with four touchdowns and six picks in seven appearances this season.
Washington (6-8) holds a one-game lead in the NFC East over the New York Giants (5-9) and Dallas Cowboys (5-9).