Team Notes Week 4 2017

As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, the "Pay Kirk Cousins, don't pay Cousins" debate is ongoing after every game. Some games he's not worth much of anything.

Other days -- like today -- he's worth as much as anybody else in the league.

But the truth with Cousins is this: He's capable of struggling but also of producing huge nights. That's why those who made up their minds on Cousins a while ago haven't really changed. Each side can offer proof as to why they think the way they do.

However, as Keim contends, if Cousins strings together more nights like Sunday, a lot of minds could change. He played one of the best games of his career, leading the Washington Redskins to a 27-10 win over the Oakland Raiders. He beat a good team in a prime-time game (much like he did a year ago against the Green Bay Packers) and was the best passer on the field.

Derek Carr received the big contract in the offseason -- and two weeks ago, Cousins' critics would have said he shouldn't receive one that's comparable. But it was Cousins who starred, completing 25 of 30 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Three of those incompletions hit receivers' hands and were dropped or jarred free. It might have been the most accurate Cousins has been.

"We don't even talk about dollars," head coach Jay Gruden said earlier in the week. "That would never come up with any of these guys, so it's not an issue. It won't be an issue. Ever."

For the record, Cousins, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, hit 25 of 30 attempts for 365 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders.

After the game, Gruden clearly liked what he witnessed all night.

"You can look at the yards and say, obviously, I like the yards and completion percentage, but there were some decisions that Kirk made that were equally as impressive," Gruden said. "Not forcing the ball; running the ball when we had a couple of bad looks, protecting the football. He really managed the game perfectly. He made some big-time throws, the receivers made some plays for him, so all around I was very impressed with the entire offense."

But what they would discuss is how close they believed Cousins was to having a big game. During the week, multiple coaches said Cousins was "this close" as he was getting more in sync with the receivers. They felt they could contain the Raiders' pass rush because of their tackles, Trent Williams and Morgan Moses. But it was also the precision they started to see last week on the final drive against the Los Angeles Rams.

"Kirk is one of the better quarterbacks in the league," running back Chris Thompson said. "It's on us as running backs, receivers, offensive line. ... Just win our matchups and Kirk is going to get us the ball. He's such a great quarterback. I knew it was about time for him to have a big game."

When receivers cut, the ball would arrive. When he threw downfield, he gave his best deep threat, Josh Doctson, a chance. In practice, Cousins and Doctson had started to connect. Sunday, Doctson made a leaping catch over former Redskins corner David Amerson and ran in to complete a 52-yard score.

"I'm going to give him a chance because they've been asking me to give him that chance," Cousins said of Doctson. "It was scary when it left my hand. ... Josh made me right, but that play can go either way, you know? That's why this game is so tough."

Another time, Cousins stood in the pocket and patted the ball, then did it again. He didn't hurry himself, trusted the protection and allowed the receiver to break free -- then delivered a strike to Jamison Crowder. Because Cousins hit him in stride, it enabled Crowder to run after the catch for 30 more yards.

Like Gruden said, he managed well. That's what Cousins focused on in the offseason. The result: Hitting Thompson on a blitz that he took for a 22-yard touchdown pass.

"By knowing how to manage situations and making decisions based on what I am coached to do and how the game is being played," Cousins said.

Cousins and the Redskins' offense did all this without his one-time security blanket -- tight end Jordan Reed. Since becoming a starter at the beginning of the 2015 season, Cousins owns a 119.6 passer rating when targeting Reed. But during that same span, the Redskins were 2-4 without him.

The Redskins have plenty of other weapons and Cousins used them, completing passes to eight receivers. Doctson can develop into a dangerous threat. And Thompson has been their best offensive player, by far. In the end, Cousins did his job.

In doing so, he proved his worth. Until that worth is debated again next week.

Meanwhile, getting back to Thompson, the versatile third-down back has four of the Redskins' seven offensive touchdowns this season and will be a handful for the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) this coming Monday night.

Thompson had 150 yards receiving and a touchdown plus 38 yards rushing in Washington's 27-10 thumping of the Oakland Raiders (2-1) on Sunday night, a testament to coach Jay Gruden's play-calling and his value to the Redskins' offense.

"He can line up in the backfield, he can spread them out wide, he can catch the football," Crowder said. "He definitely gives you mismatches against the defense. He's just a great player. He has the speed. He's not that big of a guy, but he has the speed, the toughness and he just makes plays."

Thompson has been a headache for defenses early in the season with 231 yards receiving and 119 rushing. Kansas City can only hope it limits Thompson like it did Darren Sproles in Week 2 when the Philadelphia back had two catches for 30 yards and 10 carries for 48.

Even though Oakland coach Jack Del Rio said the Raiders were aware of what Thompson could do, they left him wide open at times, and he made them pay. Thompson had a 74-yard catch-and-run to go along with his 22-yard touchdown reception.

"Coach Gruden, he's been doing such a great job at his play-calling and being able to get me in some good situations where I'm in 1-on-1 matchups, then it's my job to win," Thompson said. "They're paying me to win my 1-on-1 matchups and to make plays, be a spark for this offense."

Thompson has been the ultimate spark even with just 14 carries. Gruden knows the 26-year-old wants a bigger share of the workload, but he and Cousins don't want to take away from Thompson's multifaceted abilities.

"We have to make sure Chris stays healthy this year because it's really hard to find a guy who can pass-protect, make people miss, help me with the pass game, catch the ball," Cousins said. "He is the total package."

So even without Kelley and Reed in the mix, the Redskins got things clicking on offense with the likes of Thompson and Vernon Davis. Rookie running back Samaje Perine left with a hand injury, as Davis had five catches for 58 yards.

"Vernon is a big asset to our team," said Cousins. "You know that Jordan is not always healthy. The fact that Vernon has the speed that he has and the experience and can make the plays with the last year and half -- what an asset to our offense."

For the record, Reed (chest contusion) remains listed as day-to-day after missing the Oakland game on Sunday. He is expected to participate in practice on Wednesday. It seems reasonable to expect the same of Kelley, who is also considered day-to-day.

According to the Sports Xchange, Perine (bruised hand) didn't break any bones when he took a direct hit from a helmet and fumbled in the second half of Sunday's win over Oakland. He is expected to participate in practice sometime this week.

I'll be following up on all involved when Late-Breaking Updates commence early Thursday.

DEPTH CHART
QBs: Justin Fields, Tyson Bagent, Nathan Peterman
RBs: Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, Khari Blasingame
WRs: D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr., Trent Taylor, Equanimeous St. Brown
TEs: Cole Kmet, Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Jake Tonges