Washington Remains NFC East Favorites Despite Releasing QB Dwayne Haskins

• Washington Football Team released QB Dwayne Haskins on Monday
• Haskins was benched after an ineffective performance vs. Carolina on Sunday
• Washington still at -105 to win NFC East with Taylor Heinicke set to start Week 17

The Washington Football Team may still be in control of its own destiny in the NFC East entering Week 17, but the team has made a shocking announcement on Monday afternoon. The team announced that it was released quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was benched during the team’s disappointing 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers just yesterday.

In a statement, head coach Ron Rivera said,

“This afternoon I met with Dwayne and informed him that we would be releasing him. I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways. We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.”

Haskins’ Struggles

Haskins didn’t even last two full seasons with the team after being selected with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Rivera benched Haskins in favor of Taylor Heinicke in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.

Haskins drew a start for the second consecutive week in place of the injured Alex Smith, but he completed just 14 of 28 attempts for 154 yards and a pair of interceptions before his benching. Heinicke wound up leading Washington to a late touchdown drive, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their deficit in the end.

Haskins issued a statement of his own that said,

“My time with the WFT has unfortunately come to an end. I thank the team and 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 and will become a better man and player because of this experience.”

Just last week, Haskins was fined $40,000 and stripped of his role as a team captain after he was seen at a birthday party without wearing a mask in public. That was a violation of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, and the incident likely played a role in the team’s decision to release him on Monday.

Rivera said earlier Monday that Heinicke would start Washington Foorball Team’s season finale this Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles if Smith is unable to return from a calf injury. If he starts, Heinicke would become Washington’s fourth different starting quarterback of the season. Haskins began the season as the starter before being benched in favor of Kyle Allen.

Allen suffered a season-ending injury against the Giants on November 8, which paved the way for Smith to enter the mix as the new starter. Smith, who is the betting favorite to win the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year this season following his devastating leg injury, hurt the calf on his other leg a couple of weeks ago against the 49ers. Smith’s injury led to Haskins regaining his job as the QB1 for the last two games until he was removed from Sunday’s loss to the Panthers.

Washington Still Favored in NFC East

Heinicke saw his first action of the season on Sunday. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown pass. He appeared in one game for the Houston Texans in 2017 before playing in six games for the Carolina Panthers two years ago. The 27-year-old went undrafted out of Old Dominion in 2017.

While Washington has all sorts of issues at QB, they are still the odds-on favorites to win the division on Sunday. Interestingly enough, Washington is currently a -105 favorite to win the division despite being listed as slight underdogs on Sunday night against the Eagles. The Football Team is at +1.5 in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

Sunday’s loss dropped WFT’s record to just 6-9 on the year, which means they’re tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the best mark in the woeful NFC East. Washington beat Dallas in both of their previous meetings this season, but the Cowboys can leapfrog them for the division title on Sunday. All Dallas would have to do is beat the New York Giants and hope Washington loses to the Eagles.