Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Monday that Colt McCoy will start at quarterback next week against Dallas if Robert Griffin III is not medically cleared to play.
“Right now, we’re going to move forward with Colt,” Gruden said. “I’m a big rep guy, and I want to make sure we get the starter ready to go.”
Gruden did not officially rule out Griffin against the Cowboys, however, and said the team will closely monitor the quarterback’s previously dislocated left ankle. Griffin only began participating in individual drills last week and has not yet completed a full practice.
“He still has a long way to go,” Gruden said.
Gruden said Griffin will not start until his ankle is 100 percent healthy. The third-year quarterback must not only be cleared by team doctors but also feel 100 percent confident in his ankle, and express that confidence to Gruden.
“Can he cut without pain?” Gruden said. “Can he run without pain? Is he full speed? Is [the ankle] sturdy enough? Does he feel like it is? Does he play good with the brace on? There’s a lot of issues that still go into making him a starter or seeing if he’s ready or not, and a lot of those are out of my hands.”
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In the past two weeks, the Redskins have prepared for teams who did not reveal their starting quarterbacks until Sunday. But Gruden felt comfortable laying out his quarterback plans nearly a week in advance because he does not consider it to be much of a strategic advantage.
“They’re preparing for our offense, they’re not preparing for a quarterback,” Gruden said. “Both of them are very good quarterbacks in my mind. It’s just I want to make it clear to our team and our quarterbacks who the starter is moving forward so we can prepare that way.”
Gruden said Kirk Cousins will “get the reps that he gets and he’ll be ready to go in if need be” against the Cowboys. But his time as a starter appears to have ended at halftime Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, at least for the foreseeable future.
Cousins was replaced by McCoy at halftime in Washington’s eventual 19-17 win. McCoy completed 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon on his first attempt.
Gruden said he likes McCoy’s intangibles and was impressed with the quarterback’s poise Sunday.
“I’ve always liked his demeanor,” Gruden said. “I’ve liked the fact that he came in as a No. 3 and did what he was asked to do, compete the way he’s supposed to compete, be supportive to Robert and Kirk like he’s supposed to and then when his opportunity comes, take advantage of it. And that’s what he’s done.”
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• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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