The Commanders have had 70
quarterbacks start at least one game in the history of their franchise. Recently, the team has been notable for its instability at the quarterback position.[2][3] Since 2000, the Commanders have 27 different starting quarterbacks[2][3] and only two have started entire consecutive seasons:
Jason Campbell (
2008–
2009) and
Kirk Cousins (
2015–
2017).[2]
Guglielmi was expected to start Week 1, but he injured his right knee during the first preseason game against the
San Francisco 49ers.[29] Day started Week 1 against the
Baltimore Colts, but then he was injured in the fourth quarter and
M. C. Reynolds finished the game.[30] After the Week 2
bye, Guglielmi started the remaining 11 games.
On November 19, 2018, Sanchez signed with Washington as the backup to McCoy, after starter Smith suffered a season-ending leg injury.[132] Sanchez made his first appearance with the Redskins for an injured McCoy in a 28–13 loss to the Eagles. Sanchez became the starter after McCoy fractured his fibula in the game.[133] In Week 14, Sanchez was benched at halftime in a 40–16 loss to the Giants in favor of Johnson. The next day, Washington named Johnson their starter for the Week 15 game against the Jaguars.[134]
Fitzpatrick, signed to be the season's starter, was injured in the first half of the opening game and sat out the rest of the year. Gilbert started one game due to Heinicke testing positive for
COVID-19.
Baugh led the Redskins to the
NFL Championship game against the
Chicago Bears, where he finished 17 of 33 for 335 yards and his second-half touchdown passes of 55, 78 and 33 yards gave Washington a 28–21 victory.[153] His 335 passing yards remained the most ever in a playoff game by any rookie quarterback in NFL history until
Russell Wilson broke the record in
2012.
^In 1935, the NFL set the number of regular season games to 12. Prior to that, the NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play.[6] The Redskins only played 11 games, however, as a road game against the
Philadelphia Eagles was canceled due to snow and rain.
^In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 12 games since 1935, to 11.[6]
^In 1943, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 11 games since 1937, to 10.[6]
^In 1946, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 10 games since 1943, to 11 games.[6]
^In 1947, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 11 games since 1946, to 12 games.[6]
^In 1961, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 12 games since 1947, to 14 games.[6]
^In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[6]
^In 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 16 games since 1978, to 17 games.[6]
The Commanders have had 70
quarterbacks start at least one game in the history of their franchise. Recently, the team has been notable for its instability at the quarterback position.[2][3] Since 2000, the Commanders have 27 different starting quarterbacks[2][3] and only two have started entire consecutive seasons:
Jason Campbell (
2008–
2009) and
Kirk Cousins (
2015–
2017).[2]
Guglielmi was expected to start Week 1, but he injured his right knee during the first preseason game against the
San Francisco 49ers.[29] Day started Week 1 against the
Baltimore Colts, but then he was injured in the fourth quarter and
M. C. Reynolds finished the game.[30] After the Week 2
bye, Guglielmi started the remaining 11 games.
On November 19, 2018, Sanchez signed with Washington as the backup to McCoy, after starter Smith suffered a season-ending leg injury.[132] Sanchez made his first appearance with the Redskins for an injured McCoy in a 28–13 loss to the Eagles. Sanchez became the starter after McCoy fractured his fibula in the game.[133] In Week 14, Sanchez was benched at halftime in a 40–16 loss to the Giants in favor of Johnson. The next day, Washington named Johnson their starter for the Week 15 game against the Jaguars.[134]
Fitzpatrick, signed to be the season's starter, was injured in the first half of the opening game and sat out the rest of the year. Gilbert started one game due to Heinicke testing positive for
COVID-19.
Baugh led the Redskins to the
NFL Championship game against the
Chicago Bears, where he finished 17 of 33 for 335 yards and his second-half touchdown passes of 55, 78 and 33 yards gave Washington a 28–21 victory.[153] His 335 passing yards remained the most ever in a playoff game by any rookie quarterback in NFL history until
Russell Wilson broke the record in
2012.
^In 1935, the NFL set the number of regular season games to 12. Prior to that, the NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play.[6] The Redskins only played 11 games, however, as a road game against the
Philadelphia Eagles was canceled due to snow and rain.
^In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 12 games since 1935, to 11.[6]
^In 1943, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 11 games since 1937, to 10.[6]
^In 1946, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 10 games since 1943, to 11 games.[6]
^In 1947, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 11 games since 1946, to 12 games.[6]
^In 1961, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 12 games since 1947, to 14 games.[6]
^In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[6]
^In 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 16 games since 1978, to 17 games.[6]