Redskins lose Robert Griffin III; Kirk Cousins steps up

LANDOVER, Md. – In the very moment Robert Griffin III was making a play reminiscent of his rookie year, he suffered an ankle dislocation that has sidelined him indefinitely. Backup Kirk Cousins more than passed the test off the bench.

The coming weeks could determine whether Cousins can become more than just the backup quarterback for the Washington Redskins, though there might not be much of a decision to make for first-year coach Jay Gruden.

Griffin was carted off the field in the first quarter of Sunday's 41-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, his left leg secured by a black air cast. He gave a thumbs up as he was taken away, and at one point appeared to wipe tears from his eyes.

Gruden began his press conference confirming only that Griffin had a dislocated left ankle. He said he wouldn't know more until tests Monday, which will include an MRI.

Might the injury be season ending?

"I have no idea," said Gruden, first-year coach in Washington. " … These dislocations and fractures are all different. We will wait to see what the doctors say and the MRI says."

Two plays after Griffin went out, Cousins hit fullback Darrell Young with a 20-yard touchdown pass. Cousins connected on his first 12 passes and finished with 22 completions in 33 attempts for 250 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He did that even though starting receiver DeSean Jackson also went out in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Gruden said Jackson is day-to-day.

"Kirk is a true pro," Gruden said. "He's handled being a backup like a pro … and now his time is going to come to really take this thing and run with it.''

The Washington defense had a big say in the outcome with 10 sacks of Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne, but the offense was a significant upgrade from the punch-less performance with Griffin quarterback in a 17-6 opening day loss at the Houston Texans.

Griffin struggled in preseason. He struggled last season while coming off the knee reconstruction surgery at the end of his outstanding rookie year in 2012.

Early in Sunday's game, Griffin looked sharp. He ran two read-option runs, which has been missing from his arsenal, for 22 yards. The crowd cheered after his first 12-yard run, both for the run and the quick slide he made at the finish to avoid being hit.

On the Redskins' second series, he showed his mobility on a scramble to the sideline that ended when he tossed a 19-yard pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson at the Jaguars 20-yard line.

But it was on that play that Griffin was hurt. He said he was trying to stiff arm Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny when he planted his left foot in the grass.

"My ankle got caught in the ground, so I just kept if off the ground and made the throw," said Griffin, on crutches with the ankle wrapped tightly after the game.

He could see the dislocation.

"When I landed, I wanted to look at my ankle because I felt something. And when I looked at it, it didn't look in a great position, so I kind of knew something was wrong then. So I just called the (athletic) trainers over," said Griffin.

Griffin, a Heisman Trophy winner, was the No. 2 pick overall in the 2012 draft out of Baylor. The Redskins sent three first-round draft picks to the St. Louis Rams to move up in the draft and get him. Cousins was a fourth-round by Washington in that same draft.

Cousin's thoughts when Griffin went down?

"The first thought is, "Where's my helmet?' And the next thought is, 'I better get my right shoulder loose.' So you always says. 'Where's my helmet? Where's a football and where's somebody to catch that football?'

And (you) try to get warm as quick as possible and go in there.''

Griffin saluted Cousins: "Kirk did a great job. The offensive line protected him, he threw the ball well and all the playmakers out there were making plays."

Cousins: "Just the life of a backup quarterback. You've got to stay ready for if an opportunity comes."

Last season, Griffin was still recovering from his rookie knee surgery when he was shut down for the final three games. Cousins replaced him and went 0-3 with four touchdown passes and five interceptions.

Will this be Cousins' shot to show he is more than a backup?

"I think the focus now is just to help the Washington Redskins get a win next week," said Cousins. " … We have two divisional opponents coming up (Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants), so a lot of importance on these games."

He said his job description has not changed.

"This is Robert's team," said Cousins. "My job is to be the backup quarterback and if called upon come in and play and I better play well … so that job doesn't change. This is Robert's job and it's now my job to come in as a backup quarterback and help this team win. So I'm going to do that every change I get."

Griffin was smiling when he walked into the press conference room on crutches and hopped up to the podium. "You never want to get hurt. You want to be out there and be available for your teammates," he said. " … In moments like these, you've just got to keep the faith and stay with it and just believe that everything happens for a reason and God has a plan.''

Gruden on Griffin: "He'll probably beat all the odds and be back quicker than anybody in the history of dislocated ankles. We're sick about it, but now we have to move forward. … That's why Kirk is here.''