Although Ron Rivera promised a competition of sorts at quarterback, Dwayne Haskins worked almost entirely with the first-team offense during the camp practices that were open to the media. Any notion of a battle for the job faded in the early going, and as competition within the team intensified and the offensive installations increased, Haskins gained a firm hold on the QB1 spot — if it was ever his to really lose.
Related players: Alex Smith
Rivera still refuses to declare Haskins the Week 1 starter; when asked when he would do so, Rivera playfully responded: “The 13th, right? That’s the opener,” the story said. But when describing the young quarterback’s play over the past couple of weeks, Rivera has regularly cited his growth, included his decision making.