The Washington Redskins have a new quarterback. The team agreed to acquire journeyman Case Keenum on Thursday from the Denver Broncos.
This will be Keenum’s fifth NFL team. Here are five things you need to know about him:
1. Keenum’s best known for the ’Minneapolis Miracle’
The best moment of Keenum’s career came in the 2017 playoffs when he completed a last-ditch throw to Stefon Diggs for a game-winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints to advance to the NFC Championship. The play was dubbed the “Minneapolis Miracle” and helped Keenum get a book deal out of it.
Less than a week away until the book @casekeenum and I wrote together is available everywhere. Got this nice little box at my house the other day. You can order here: https://t.co/R95CWe2eTZ pic.twitter.com/RcP8T0xlb7
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) August 31, 2018
2. He’s been up-and-down
Case Keenum had a career-year in 2017 with the Minnesota Vikings — taking advantage of a talented supporting cast en route to a career-high 98.3 quarterback rating (22 touchdowns, seven interceptions). He parlayed that into a two-year, $36 million contract from the Denver Broncos the next offseason.
But Keenum struggled at times with the Broncos. He still threw for 3,890 yards, but he wasn’t as efficient — throwing 15 interceptions. Denver, however, didn’t have nearly the same amount of talent around Keenum as they traded away wideout Demaryius Thomas midseason and wideout Emmanuel Sanders went down late in the year with an Achilles injury.
Keenum was also subpar in 2016 with the Los Angeles Rams, appearing in nine games before being benched for first-rounder Jared Goff.
Keenum is 26-28 as a starter.
3. He torched the Redskins in 2017
One of Keenum’s top games in 2017 was against the Redskins in a 38-30 win on Nov.12. That day, the quarterback torched the Redskins for 304 yards and four touchdowns. He threw two interceptions, but coach Jay Gruden had this to say about Keenum after the game: “I’ve always thought he was a tough, accurate quarterback and he showed that again today – very accurate.
… He was able to get off progressions and scramble and move around and when he did get out of the pocket, he hurt us with some scramble throws. So, he played extremely well.”
4. Texas kid
Like Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy, Keenum grew up in Texas — nearly 20 miles away from McCoy’s hometown of Tuscola in fact.
Keenum, again like McCoy, stayed in Texas for college. At the University of Houston, he became the NCAA’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns and completions.
5. Keenum went undrafted
Despite his college success, Keenum went undrafted in 2012. But he latched onto the Houston Texans and eventually had success there, starting 10 games.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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