Injury sets stage for Redskins’ Cousins

Robert Griffin III hobbled through the Washington Redskins’ locker room on crutches, the kind of scene that has become so familiar.

The franchise National Football League (NFL) player was hurt again on Sunday, dislocating his left ankle in the first quarter of a 41-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The best-case scenario might have him playing again by the end of November, but there’s more than a decent chance he’s taken his last snap of the season.

“Moments like this,” Griffin said, “you just have to keep the faith.”

X-rays and an MRI will offer more specifics, but the Redskins for now belong to Kirk Cousins, who looked more comfortable in new coach Jay Gruden’s offense than Griffin ever did. Cousins completed his first 12 passes and finished 22 of 33 for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the woeful Jaguars.

“He’s handled being a backup like a pro,” Gruden said. “He’s waited patiently and now his time is going to come to really take this thing and run with it.”

This was truly a next-man-up game for the Redskins (1-1). After wide receiver DeSean Jackson left in the first quarter with a sprained acromioclavicular joint in his left shoulder - he’s hopeful of playing next week - Ryan Grant (five catches) and Andre Roberts (four) picked up the slack.

Niles Paul, playing for sidelined tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring), had a touchdown catch and set career highs with eight catches for 99 yards.

And the defense dominated. Ryan Kerrigan had four sacks, and the team as a whole had 10 - both tying franchise records. Washington didn’t let the Jaguars past midfield until the final two minutes of the first half and took a 21-0 lead on a team that, combined with the previous week, allowed 55 unanswered points until Chad Henne hit Marcedes Lewis for a 63-yard score with one minute and 40 seconds to go in the second quarter.

The Jaguars gained 148 total yards - and 117 came on two plays. They are 0-2 for the third consecutive season.

AP