They kept the Browns guessing for as long as possible.
The Redskins have announced that Kirk Cousins will start at quarterback on Sunday.
The Redskins had been sending mixed signals all week regarding whether Cousins or Robert Griffin III would get the start. Griffin suffered a Grade 1 LCL sprain to his right knee on a hit that looked like it created much more damage than that.
Griffin practiced all week on a limited basis, but Cousins took the first-team reps. Multiple players have expressed confidence in Cousins, who finished the drive on which Griffin was injured, throwing a touchdown pass and running in a two-point conversion to force overtime against the Ravens. The Redskins won the game via a long punt return that put Washington in field-goal range.
It’s unclear whether and to what extent the Browns spent time preparing for Cousins. The Redskins surely hope the answer is “not much.”
UPDATE 9:32 p.m. ET: While the text message from team P.R. said that Cousins “is starting,” the official entry on the team’s Twitter page is that Cousins “is expected” to start. Expectations, like plans, can change. In theory.