Case Keenum is ready for his opportunity.
The Redskins acquired Keenum from the Broncos in early March, but he was not the only quarterback the team added this offseason, as Washington also drafted Dwayne Haskins with the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Washington has veteran Colt McCoy, who is recovering from a leg injury, as well.
“I’ve been in this situation before so I’m going to come in and compete and competition makes all of us better,” Keenum told reporters. “So I make (Haskins) better, I think he’s going to come in and make me better and that’s what helps the team is competition. You’re competing against yourself, you’re competing against the other guys in the room, you’re competing against the defense during OTAs. I love to compete. ... I want to win.”
Keenum completed 62.3% of his passes and threw for 18 touchdowns, along with 15 interceptions, in 16 games for Denver last season. He has also played for the Texans, Rams and Vikings over his seven-year career.
“I think, first of all, my job is to help this team win no matter what,” Keenum said. “And that’s being ready to play, being ready to put our offense specifically in the best position to move the ball, get first downs and get touchdowns, score some points. That’s my job, that’s what I’m here to do."
The 31-year-old said he’ll work to help mentor Haskins.
“(A good quarterback room) is a noisy one where everybody talks and shares and sees things through different lenses,” Keenum said. “I’ve got a lot of knowledge that I’ve learned from guys I’ve worked with in the past. That’s part of this league, being able to pass on knowledge, that’s how I work, that’s how I operate.”
Alex Smith, who began last season as Washington’s starter, suffered a devastating leg injury in mid-November and is expected to miss all of 2019.