Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins will start Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers as Alex Smith will miss his second straight outing with a calf injury, according to multiple reports.
Smith was previously listed as questionable and was seen as a true “50-50” option to play. The 36-year-old was a full participant in Friday’s practice, but reportedly still is sore enough to the point in which he can’t suit up.
That means Washington’s potential playoff berth will fall on Haskins, who is coming off a tumultuous week in which he was disciplined for partying without a mask following last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The team fined Haskins $40,000 and stripped him of his captainship.
Coach Ron Rivera said he was “extremely disappointed” in Haskins, but he chose to not bench the 23-year-old.
Haskins apologized to the team and said he would learn from the incident, which was his second violation of the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
Washington can clinch a playoff spot if it beats the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants lose to the Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL Network first reported that Haskins would start.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.