Robert Griffin III Will Not Start For Redskins, Fellow Rookie Kirk Cousins Gets Nod

Robert Griffin III will not start Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, sitting out with a knee injury while fellow rookie Kirk Cousins gets the start.

Reports from earlier in the week seemed more positive from the Redskins, giving hope that RGIII could return from his knee injury in time for Sunday’s game. But the team announced on Saturday that Cousins would start in his place.

Washington Post reporter Tracee Hamilton had reported on Friday that the team was likely to start Robert Griffin III, but it wasn’t clear what happened since then to lead the team to start Cousins instead. Reports from the end of the week did indicate that Griffin was limited in practice.

ESPN blogger Dan Graziano said the Robert Griffin III news indicates that the Redskins are confident going into Sunday’s game:

“The fact that the announcement Kirk Cousins, not fellow rookie Robert Griffin III, will start Sunday’s game for the Washington Redskins against the Cleveland Browns came as early as it did indicates that the Redskins believe they have a good chance to win the game with Cousins. The Redskins could have waited until Sunday morning to announce that Cousins was starting in place of Griffin, who has started every game this year for the Redskins but injured his knee Sunday against the Ravens. Instead, they informed the team Saturday night that Cousins would start.”

Robert Griffin III’s absence on Sunday could hurt both the quarterback — who is in strong contention for Rookie of the Year — and the Redskins, who are fighting for a playoff spot.