Washington punishes QB Haskins

News services

Dwayne Haskins was handed a hefty fine Wednesday for partying with several people not wearing a mask but will start at quarterback for Washington on Sunday against the Panthers if Alex Smith isn’t healthy enough to go.

The organization fined Haskins $40,000 for violating COVID-19 protocols and removed him from the role of team captain, according to reports.

“I know my team needs me, and I need to step up to the plate and I can’t be selfish, and I need to stop getting in my own way,” Haskins said. “I’ll do everything in my power to make the most of my second chance.”

Haskins apologized to teammates, took the first-team snaps in practice, and is in line to play against the Panthers if needed with the NFC East title potentially at stake — as long as he doesn’t test positive for the coronavirus this week. He apologized publicly Tuesday for his actions after photos showing him without a mask around several other people surfaced on social media.

The 2019 first-round pick said he was at a private birthday party event for his girlfriend.

Washington can clinch the NFC East title Sunday by beating the Panthers if the Giants lose to the Ravens.

College basketball: Duane Washington Jr. scored 22 points and No. 23 Ohio State rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to beat No. 11 Rutgers 80-68, handing the visiting Scarlet Knights (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) their first loss of the season. E.J. Liddell had 21 points and Kyle Young added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Buckeyes (7-1, 1-1), who trailed 48-32 with 15 minutes left in the game. The Buckeyes went on a 20-1 run late in the second half to seize control. ... Antwann Jones and Denzel Mahoney scored 13 points each to lead No. 13 Creighton to a 66-61 win over No. 22 Xavier, dealing the visiting Musketeers their first loss of the season. The Bluejays improved to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big East. The Musketeers fell to 8-1, 1-1. ... Chicago State won’t play the rest of the season. AD Elliott Charles said in a statement that the decision was made in order “to focus on the health, safety, and academic pursuits of the men’s basketball student-athletes.” The Cougars, who went 0-9, had issues related to COVID19 during the first few weeks of the season.

College football: QB Shai Werts had three TD runs and threw a 65-yard scoring pass to help Georgia Southern beat Louisiana Tech 38-3 in the New Orleans Bowl. Georgia Southern (8-5) came up with four INTs — including two near its own goal line in the first quarter. Louisiana Tech finished 5-5. ... Tulsa junior LB Zaven Collins won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors the nation’s best defensive player. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Collins totaled 54 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss and four INTs.

NHL: Lightning All-Star winger and former league MVP Nikita Kucherov will miss the upcoming 56-game regular season because of a hip injury that requires surgery. GM Julien BriseBois said he’s optimistic Kucherov will be back for the playoffs if the defending Stanley Cup champions qualify.