Kirk Cousins has ‘great opportunity’ with Robert Griffin III out

Kirk Cousins, second-year quarterback for the Washington Redskins, said he plans to take advantage of the “great opportunity” he has while Robert Griffin III recovers from reconstructive knee surgery.

“I view this as a proving ground to see if I deserve to be a starter,” Cousins said, per David Elfin of 106.7 The Fan. “Every game’s filmed. Even if coaches are coaching other games, they’re going to be able to go back and watch tape [of preseason] and see what I can do. It may be the best thing that ever happened to me to start my career in Washington. If I play well, it opens up doors elsewhere. If I don’t play well, it doesn’t.”

Cousins is slated as the starter until RGIII returns. That means the 2012 fourth-round pick might even start the first games of the season, although Griffin has made remarkable strides in his recovery.

“I see this as a great opportunity for me, however long it lasts,” said Cousins, who played well in relief in two games last season and beat Cleveland as the starter when RGIII was sidelined for a full game. “I wasn’t expecting to be with the No. 1 offense much at all, and so now to be able to do it will help my growth and development tremendously.”

Griffin, last season’s offensive rookie of the year, underwent surgery on Jan. 9 to repair the anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his right knee. He did some light jogging and went through agility drills with teammates at a workout last week.

“The knee feels great,” he told reporters, according to the New York Times. “I’m able to do stuff out there without any hesitation.”

He added: “If you put the work in, you’ll have the confidence when you get back out there. It’s about playing like you were never injured.”

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