3 Washington rookies provide hope for future success after 34-20 loss to Cleveland

Several young players stepped up on Sunday, but three rookies in Washington really showed that they have a place in the NFL going forward.

We just love to focus on the negatives, don’t we? I fall subjective to it as well, so don’t for a second think that I’m getting on my soapbox here and shaming everyone for being down in the dumps about the quarterback situation in Washington.

Dwayne Haskins had a tough day on Sunday, and it brought the mood of the entire team down. We’ve already delved deep into the Haskins narrative, wondering if and when he will be benched — don’t hold your breath — and what that means for the outlook of the season. However, we’re doing a disservice to the rest of the team if we only focus on the negatives and don’t give props where they are deserved.

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On Sunday, it was the rookie class in Washington who deserved a lot of credit, with three players stepping onto the big stage and at least proving that they belong there.

Antonio Gibson, Isaiah Wright, and Kamren Curl can walk away from that game with their heads held high.

Gibson finished the day as the leading rusher for Washington, which, although it was only 49 total yards and a touchdown, still gave him another step forward in the RB1 battle in Washington.

Wright shined in his NFL debut, catching four passes for 24 yards on six targets, which was tied for the second-most on the team. He also had a huge flay in the first quarter when he salvaged a touchdown drive by playing elite defense on CB Denzel Ward, who was trying to come down with an interception.

Curl flew a bit under the radar, only coming away with two total tackles, but his presence on the defense went far beyond the box score, and he was routinely flying around in the secondary and coming up with big plays. His coaches were singing his praises after the game.

It all ended in a loss, yes. However, if we’re being realistic, that’s going to happen more often than not in the 2020 season for Washington. What’s important is that we find these performances to celebrate, and hold onto the hope that Washington has a bunch of young guys on the roster who can turn into real pieces down the road. We got just that on Sunday, and we’re here to give the rookies all of the credit that they deserve.

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