Quarterback Dwayne Haskins of the Washington Football Team is expected to start this Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted the news:

With Alex Smith still recovering from a calf injury that he sustained last week, Washington is looking to Haskins to lead the team over the Panthers for what is much needed win. Alex Smith, coming off of a devastating leg injury, led the team to some key victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.

The question is whether Dwayne Haskins is in the right mindset to lead the team, especially after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks this past week.

Haskins has recently been in the headlines due to the images of him at a strip club without a mask surfaced, causing him to pay a fine of $40,000, one of the largest fines associated with breaking a coronavirus safety regulation in the NFL. His actions put the team and coaching staff in a tough position this past week. However, with Smith out, the decision became that much clearer.

If given the starting position against the Panthers, Dwayne Haskins has a huge responsibility on his shoulders and can not afford to let his past actions affect his mindset. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys are just a game behind Washington, as the playoff race in the NFC East is as close as it can get. A team that has not made the playoffs since 2015, Ron Riveria and his team are a game away from potentially stopping this playoff drought and give Washington fans some hope this year.