SPORTS INSIDER – Redskins beat Jaguars 41-10 despite loss of Robert Griffin III, DeSean Jackson

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rgiiiSeptember 15, 2014
Ceci Ferrari

Sports Writer
Sports Insider

The Redskins’ home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars got off to a rocky start. Just a few plays into the first quarter, Robert Griffin III, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery in 2012, suffered another injury. He was attempting a pass play when he came down awkwardly on his ankle and fell onto the sideline in pain.

It was determined that Griffin had dislocated his left ankle, but an MRI determined that there was no fracture, and surgery is not needed. Despite that good news, he is still expected to miss a minimum of eight weeks. He could be out for the season, depending on how his rehab progresses.

“God has a plan,” Griffin said, remaining positive. “He was looking out for me.”

While Griffin was carted off the field, backup QB Kirk Cousins stepped in and quickly made an impression. He threw a 20-yard TD pass to Darrel Young on his third snap, giving the Redskins a quick 7-0 lead and reinvigorating the sell-out crowd at FedEx Field.

But on the next possession, Washington suffered another loss when wide receiver DeSean Jackson was injured attempting to catch a pass from Cousins. Jackson left the game with a left shoulder injury. And though he didn’t return on Sunday, his injury is not expected to sideline him for long.

“He’s day-to-day,” head coach Jay Gruden said. “If he can play with the pain, he’ll be good to go for Sunday.”

Despite the unfortunate and unexpected losses, the rest of the team rose to the occasion. Cousins in particular handled the situation with ease and confidence, completing his first 12 passes, and finishing the day 22 of 33 for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

“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.”

Running back Alfred Morris had a big day, rushing for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The defense was also instrumental in Washington’s 41-10 rout of the Jaguars. They had 10 sacks, including four by Ryan Kerrigan alone; both tying franchise records.

The much-needed victory snapped a nine-game losing streak–the second longest in franchise history. Before Sunday, their most recent win was last November against the San Diego Chargers.

“It’s a special day for me, personally, a special day for this team, getting out to a great start with a home victory,” Gruden, who won his first game as head coach, said. “Unfortunately, a man out there hurt his ankle, but we just have to move on.”

The Redskins, led by Cousins for the foreseeable future, will next face division rival Philadelphia on the road.

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