ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden didn't name Wednesday who his starting quarterback will be, in part to try to keep the firestorm over his choice from erupting as was the case earlier this season.
"I'm not going to announce (the starter) until I see the week of practice, see how it goes," Gruden said after Wednesday's practice in which Colt McCoy, Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins all took snaps.
McCoy sprained his neck when sacked by St. Louis defensive end Robert Quinn in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Rams, his second start since replacing Griffin.
"It's just a matter of getting his full range of motion back, but he did good today," Gruden said of McCoy, the only one of the three quarterbacks who has won a game in which he played the whole way. "We'll get (another) look at him tomorrow, see how he progresses."
McCoy was limited in practice but expects to start again Sunday when the reeling Redskins (3-10) visit the New York Giants (4-9).
"I'm doing a lot better, making good progress," said McCoy, who had no previous neck issues and said doctors told him he can't aggravate the injury by playing Sunday. "I'm just dealing with a little aggravated disc, a little aggravated nerve in my neck. Hopefully if that calms down, we'll be fine. I don't need any more tests. As long as I'm breathing, as long as I can pick up a football, I'm going to go out there and help my team win. There's no other way to look at it. I thought I threw the ball well today."
Neither Gruden nor McCoy blamed Quinn for the hit which came after center Kory Lichtensteiger snapped the ball too early and the Rams' leading pass-rusher had a free shot at the quarterback.
"It's a bang-bang play," said McCoy, who has been sacked 17 times in 138 drop-backs. "I don't blame him. He's doing what he's taught to do: rush the passer. I wish the ref could have blown (the play) dead."