The Washington Redskins finished the 2019 preseason Thursday with a 20-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at FedEx Field, but the game featured the first career start for Washington’s first-round draft pick, quarterback Dwayne Haskins, and he did not disappoint.
Haskins who played college ball at Ohio State, completed 10 of 17 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown while playing one half of football. The touchdown — a seven-yard strike to a diving Steven Sims Jr. — capped off a nice eight-play, 75-yard drive in the first quarter.
Barring injuries, fans will not see much of Haskins during the regular season. Washington head coach Jay Gruden has named Case Keenum as the starting quarterback and Colt McCoy will be his backup once healthy.
Gruden, however, was very impressed by his first-round pick.
“[He] had good energy, communicated the offense well to others, made some nice plays,” Gruden said of Haskins. “He hurried a couple of them and had some pressure. Overall, I thought he moved the ball and had a nice touchdown drive. He made some nice plays. I have to check out the film, but I am happy for him for the way he played today.”
With the final cuts to the 53-man roster coming Saturday, this game was reserved for many of the players still fighting to make the squad. Sims, an undrafted free agent from Kansas, may have accomplished this, returning two kickoffs for 80 yards along with his touchdown catch.
“He’s a little fireball,” Gruden said of Sims. “He’s got the speed and quickness to separate. Coming in here as a rookie free agent from Kansas and learning this offense, he’s still got a ways to go as far as getting himself ready to play. But we love the prospect of him with the ball in his hands.”
On defense, lineman Ryan Bee, a free agent from Marshall University, also may have secured a spot on the final roster as he had five tackles during the loss to the Ravens. Bee led the team with 18 tackles during the four preseason games and recorded a sack in the first preseason game.
Baltimore backup quarterback Trace McSorley led Baltimore’s attack, going 15 for 27 for 171 yards and one touchdown. Running backs Kenneth Dixon and De’Lance Turner combined for 128 rushing yards and a touchdown. Safety Brynden Trawick led the Ravens’ defense with four tackles and an interception.
Washington finished the preseason with a 1-3 record. The regular season begins in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 8.