Haskins released
Washington released 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins on Monday, less than 24 hours after he committed three turnovers in a loss to Carolina and in the aftermath of another violation of pandemic protocols.
Haskins, 23, started in place of injured quarterback Alex Smith despite being disciplined for breaking COVID-19 rules by partying with several people without a mask. He was fined $40,000 and stripped of his captaincy, but coach Ron Rivera opted to stick with Haskins because Smith was still injured and Rivera didn’t have another established QB on the roster.
“My time with the WFT has unfortunately come to an end,” Haskins tweeted. “I thank the team & fans for the opportunity to play for the team I grew up rooting for. I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of an
NFL QB & will become a better man & player because of this experience.”
Rivera said Monday morning that either Smith or Taylor Heinicke would start the regular-season finale at Philadelphia. It was clear Rivera was done with Haskins, whom he had shuffled to the bottom of the depth chart for the second time this season.
“Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can dig your way back out of it,” Rivera said. “I hope he learns from these experiences. Hopefully, they’ll make him stronger and they’ll help him and, hopefully, when he gets his next opportunity, he’ll make the best of it.”
Haskins was 14 of 28 with two interceptions and a fumble against the Panthers before being benched for Heinicke, who hadn’t played in the NFL since 2018.
A favorite of owner Dan Snyder’s from his time at a Washington-area high school, Haskins missed the final play of his first NFL victory last year while taking a photo with a fan in the stands, disappeared from practice with a mysterious illness after being benched and demoted in October and twice violated rules for conduct in the middle of a pandemic.
ELSEWHERE
Browns: Coach Kevin Stefanski said some of the players who missed Sunday’s loss to the Jets because of COVID-19 protocols will be eligible to return to practice Thursday as Cleveland prepares to play Pittsburgh with a playoff spot riding on the outcome. Cleveland was without its top four wide receivers, including leading target Jarvis Landry, starting left tackle Jedrick Wills and two linebackers.
Jets: Frank Gore reached a milestone on his final carry of Sunday’s game, and maybe of his career. The 37-year-old New York running back has a bruised lung that coach Adam Gase said will keep Gore out of the season finale at New England. Gore, who became the third player in NFL history to run for 16,000 yards, was hurt in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ victory over the Browns. It was originally called a chest injury, but tests revealed the lung contusion.
Ravens: Baltimore was fined $250,000 by the
NFL for violating COVID-19 protocols. The team was not docked draft picks for the violations, which led to a coronavirus outbreak and the rescheduling of the Ravens’ Thanksgiving night game against Pittsburgh.