Gruden: Griffin may start if McCoy cannot

ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Monday that should quarterback Colt McCoy remain injured, the team may start Robert Griffin in their Week 15 meeting at the New York Giants.

"It's hard to say right now," Gruden told the Washington Post. "I don't know how healthy he [McCoy] is. I'm not going to make any assumptions or conclusions until I get all the tests back from the doctor."

McCoy left action in the fourth quarter Sunday with a neck sprain. The quarterback mentioned Monday that the pain in his neck was the same as it had been at the time of its injury, and after underoing an X-ray and MRIs.

Robert Griffin finished the team's 24-0 defeat to the Rams Sunday in relief of McCoy, who was himself in relief of Griffin after the latter was benched by Jay Gruden for poor performance.

Griffin went 1-3 as the Redskins' starter, throwing for two touchdowns and four interceptions on 902 yards passing, enjoying a completion rate of 70 percent.

He missed seven games this season after suffering a dislocated ankle in the team's Week 2 meeting with Jacksonville before returning, though went 0-3 in that time and was sacked 16 times.

Gruden also said he was undecided who would start even if McCoy were healthy.

"I'm just going to wait before I make any assumptions or conclusions," Gruden said Monday. "I don't want to rush into any decision at this time anyway. Nobody else has to announce their starters on a Monday press conference, so I don't think I should be any different. I'm going to wait and see until I get all the information on the quarterback."

The relationship between Gruden and Griffin has become strained in recent weeks as the Post's Jason Reid reported the coach spoke privately with management in no uncertain terms that it would serve the program better if they made a "clean break" with Griffin following the season.

Gruden also mentioned that former second-stringer Kirk Cousins may see the field before season's end.

"I could see myself playing with Kirk, no doubt about it," the coach said. "I like Kirk. He did some good things when he was there. Obviously, the turnovers and third downs have really plagued us, plagued them pretty hard."

Cousins was benched following the first half of the Redskins' Week 7 meeting with the Titans in favor of Colt McCoy, who led the team's comeback victory.