ASHBURN — The Washington Redskins practiced inside the bubble on Wednesday to protect them from the rain. They won’t have that luxury when they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, when Hurricane Joaquin may move through the area.
The Redskins have kept watch on the storm’s trajectory, and they are beginning to account for the weather in their preparation for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Kirk Cousins sounded confident that the weather wouldn’t impede his throwing ability.
“I’ve always been able to throw a wet ball pretty consistently,” Cousins said. “I don’t feel like it takes me off my game too much. That being said, it is a wrinkle and a challenge.”
If the storm hits, it will undoubtedly affect the game, but the Redskins shouldn’t have too many adjustments to make from a play-calling perspective. The run game only becomes more essential in wet conditions, and the Redskins currently have the fourth-ranked rushing offense.
Still, the team plans to be as prepared as possible. If the next few days bring dry conditions, Cousins said he will dunk the football in a bucket of water at practice to simulate playing with a wet ball — but a wet ball can affect more than just the passing game.
“Throwing is probably a little easier than just the center-quarterback exchange — getting that snap,” Cousins said. “It comes up quickly, and if you don’t get a clean grip, it clan slip right through your hands.”
Cousins had plenty of trouble in last week’s loss to the New York Giants without inclement weather, throwing two interceptions and completing a season-low 61.2 percent of his passes.
“I was disappointed with — I would call it situational management. The second interception, it was first-and-10. Just throw the ball out of bounds,” Cousins said. “You don’t have to try and put it on Derek [Carrier] there in that moment, you know, play for the next play kind of thing.”
Cousins stressed the importance of learning from his mistakes. At the same time, he recognized that risk-taking is a necessary component in his development.
“If I don’t trust those throws and let them go at times, I’ll probably never be able to make consistent completions in this league,” Cousins said.
• Dan Roth can be reached at droth@washingtontimes.com.
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