Colt McCoy to Start for Redskins

Just a day after Washington Redskins relief starter Kirk Cousins was benched in favor of Colt McCoy, Redskins coach Jay Gruden told the media that if Robert Griffin III is unable to play because of his lingering ankle injury, then Colt McCoy will start next Monday night against Dallas, according to NFL.com. This move was something that a lot of fans believed was coming after Cousins continued to turn the ball over game after game. McCoy came into the game in the second half of last weeks game against Tennessee and had a fantastic day; after Cousins fumbled the ball away and threw an interception in the first half. McCoy finished the game 11 of 12 passing for 128 yards and a touchdown; also leading Washington on a last minute drive that resulted in a game-winning field goal.

Gruden told the media on Monday that if Griffin III was not ‘100 percent ready’ McCoy would get the nod. He continued by saying: “We don’t want to put him out there at 85 percent, have it be weak and have him do something else to it. We want to make sure he’s ready to go when he’s out there.”

McCoy hasn’t started a game since week 14 of the 2011 season, a game in which he suffered a concussion. Coach Gruden did say that he believes that McCoy has ‘great intangibles’ and ‘is a great competitor’. It will certainly be an upgrade for the Redskins because in Cousins five starts this season he has nine interceptions and the Redskins were 1-4, but the sole win was after McCoy came in relief.

Now, if Griffin III is healthy enough to play Monday night, then there is no need for McCoy, but as it stands, McCoy will get the start on primetime.

Ben Carter is a staff writer for NFL Spin Zone, follow him on twitter: @ASAP_Athlete