Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman sprints out of the backfield against the Washington Redskins during a preseason game Thursday night in Atlanta.ATLANTA - If Case Keenum is still the leader in the Washington Redskins' quarterback competition, rookie Dwayne Haskins at least gave coach Jay Gruden more to think about.
Haskins led Washington to three second-half scoring drives, including two set up by the Atlanta Falcons' lost fumbles while attempting to field punts, in a 19-7 preseason win Thursday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Keenum played the first half and lost a fumble, which helped the Falcons lead 7-6 at halftime. Haskins, a first-round draft pick from Ohio State, was 7-of-13 passing for 74 yards in the second half and helped the Redskins win for the first time in three games this preseason.
"I'm excited to see Dwayne make some throws from the pocket," Gruden said. "I like some things Case did. Obviously the turnover was disturbing. But other than that I think he moved the ball pretty well and did some good things. They both have done some good things this preseason."
Colt McCoy, Washington's third contestant in the QB competition, is still recovering after breaking his right leg in 2018.
Keenum, the starter for the Denver Broncos in 2018 after spending most of 2017 starting for the Minnesota Vikings, said he's not anxious to have a starter named for the regular season.
"I don't necessarily need to be told, I guess you could say," Keenum said. "I'm fine with however things go. I went pretty much the entire season with the Vikings not being told I was going to start until Wednesday of that week's practice and we won 13 games that year, so that worked out all right."
Keenum finished 9-of-14 for 101 yards, but his lost fumble when he was sacked by Deadrin Senat set up a second-quarter touchdown for Atlanta (0-4). Takk McKinley recovered the fumble and ran 17 yards to the Washington 33. Ito Smith's 5-yard touchdown run helped the Falcons take a 7-3 lead.
Washington running back Derrius Guice rushed for 44 yards in his first game since a knee injury in the 2018 preseason ended his rookie campaign.
"He made a 5-yard run, a 9-yard run and so on," Keenum said. "He made some really good cuts in a lot of traffic."
Longtime Falcons starting quarterback Matt Ryan played the full first half in his most extended playing time of the preseason and went 9-of-14 for 74 yards. He was perfect in the first quarter, when he completed each of his eight passes for 60 yards.
Veteran backup Matt Schaub was held out as Danny Etling became the latest third-string quarterback to play in the preseason for Atlanta. Matt Simms, signed after Kurt Benkert was lost with a toe injury, was held out with an undisclosed injury.
The Falcons signed Etling last week after he was released by the New England Patriots. Etling's lack of familiarity with the playbook showed as he struggled to move the offense in the second half.
The Falcons took their 12th straight preseason loss since their previous preseason win, on Sept. 1, 2016, against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mistakes on special teams helped extend the Falcons' losing streak in exhibitions. Atlanta rookies Marcus Green and Olamide Zaccheaus lost fumbles inside their team's 20 when trying to field punts in the third quarter. Each turnover set up short Washington scoring drives led by Haskins.
Green's lost fumble, recovered by Washington's Trop Apke, set up Samaje Perine's 3-yard touchdown run to set up a 13-7 lead. Zaccheaus couldn't catch Tress Way's next punt, and the recovery by Robert Davis set up Dustin Hopkins' 23-yard field goal. Hopkins also made field goals from 48, 29 and 40 yards.
Atlanta's Giorgio Tavecchio, who missed two 42-yard field-goal attempts in last week's 22-10 loss to the New York Jets, was wide left on a 39-yard try in the first quarter.
The Falcons may be forced to look for help at the position.
"Like everything, we are going to evaluate that spot," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.
Running back Kenjon Barner, who may be Atlanta's primary return specialist, did not play because of an undisclosed injury.
"Barner is the one that will lead the way," Quinn said when asked about his plan to address the situation.
Falcons tight end Jaeden Graham (knee) was declared out in the second quarter, and cornerback Taveze Calhoun was helped off the field and then carted to the locker room in the fourth quarter with a possible concussion. Atlanta defensive tackles Ra'Shede Hageman (neck) and Justin Zimmer (foot) and fullback Ricky Ortiz (ankle) were listed as questionable.
Atlanta will conclude its five-game preseason schedule when it visits Jacksonville next Thursday night.