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ASHBURN, Va. – Colt McCoy knew exactly what his teammates needed to hear.
After a deadly two-point loss and Alex Smith's disastrous end-of-season injury, McCoy rose in the Washington Redskins locker room and went to the group.
McCoy & # 39; told us we were in good hands, "said attacking midfielder Chris Thompson. & # 39; & # 39; We had no doubt about it since the jump. We lost the match, but I will say that Colt spoke to us afterwards. The guys are really excited and we are ready to go to Dallas. & # 39;
Washington recruited Mark Sanchez on Monday as a new replacement, but this is McCoy's team now that Smith has fractured his right tibia and fibula in a horrible way. McCoy will start Thursday when the Redskins will visit the Dallas Cowboys during a Thanksgiving clash that will determine the winner of the NFC East. The 32-year-old enjoys the full confidence of the coaching staff and players. the rest of the season.
"I feel very comfortable with Colt and I have always done it," said coach Jay Gruden. "It was a luxury to have him as a substitute quarterback and now, it's a great opportunity for him to take the reins." I know he's excited about it. It's a guy who knows the system, he's a competitor, he's precise in football, he knows where to go with football – we suppose it – but we'll see it on Thursday. "
Until Sunday, McCoy had not managed a pass in a regular season game since 2015. The Cowboys game will be his first start since 2014, the same season as he beat Dallas on the road Monday night.
It was a long time ago, at the time of the NFL, but there is a reason for McCoy to be on the list since the arrival of Gruden in Washington. His knowledge of the offensive was evident even for Houston Texan players when McCoy took over for Smith.
"He's been here for years," said Texans quarterback Johnathan Joseph. & # 39; & # 39; He understands the offense well. There was a moment when they talked about him as a starter. So it's nice to have two guys who can come in. As soon as he entered the match, it's as if they never went where they were. "
Whether alongside Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins or Smith, McCoy has earned a reputation among his teammates to be ready to play without waiting. The Chase Roullier Center said that McCoy considered each day as the Super Bowl that he headed at the helm of the scouting team. Nobody ever said that the former star of the University of Texas was not prepared.
"Even last year, while he had not made a single hit all season, he 's prepared like he was the starter at the time. time, "said linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. "Having that mentality and being compatible with that mentality really tells him a lot about it as a professional."
McCoy, who started for Cleveland and San Francisco earlier in his career, has played just nine games in the past three seasons with Washington. Practice is one thing and McCoy realizes that the game is a different animal.
"I still have to get rid of some rust and get ready in a short week," said McCoy after scoring 6 yards out of 12 or 54 yards and a touchdown against Houston. "It's hard. This is not ideal. I think for me, I've been here for a while. I have not taken representatives with these guys for three or four years, so I think there will be a little transition there, but probably more for me than for them. & # 39; & # 39;
For Sanchez, it's a difficult turnaround, but Gruden explained that the Redskins had signed him because of his experience in the NFL and his familiarity with offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh and quarterback coach Kevin O. Donnell since his training at the Jets of New York. Sanchez praised Kellen Clemens, T.J.Yates, EJ Manuel and Josh Johnson after training all five teams in the team's home on Monday.
"He has won some playoff games and has a lot of experience," Gruden said. "I think this time of year, you need someone who has done some meaningful snaps with a lot of experience, and Mark has done it."
NOTES: Gruden stated that Smith's operation had gone well and that he expected the QB to fully recover in six to eight months. … Chris Thompson, who missed the last three games with injured ribs, said he felt "much better" and that he hoped to be decisive. CB Quinton Dunbar (shin) and LT Trent Williams (inch) are opportunities to return to Dallas.
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