LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins passes the ball while under pressure by defensive end Mario Williams #94 of the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter at FedExField on December 20, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)

Kirk Cousins is having a solid season for the Washington Redskins, and the organization is apparently sold on him as their quarterback of the future according to a report from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Redskins starting quarterback Kirk Cousins will be back with the team in 2016, even if it requires applying the franchise tag to do so, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The club has already expressed its intent to sign Cousins long-term to his representatives. Washington’s football people have been won over by the play of the former fourth-round pick, as well as how he has conducted himself during a trying four years with the club, and they have vowed not let him hit the open market.

Cousins game into Sunday’s game with the Bills with 18 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 3,306 yards and a 93.2 passer rating, putting him in the conversation as one a top ten or 15 quarterback in the NFL.

And then, Cousins went off on Sunday against Buffalo. In Washington’s 35-25 win, the former Michigan State Spartan went 22/28 for 319 yards, four touchdowns, and zero picks, giving him a QB rating of 153.7 for the day. He’s only had one better game in his career, and that came last month in Washington’s 47-14 demolition of the Saints in which Cousins went 20/25 for 324 yards, four touchdowns, no picks, and a perfect 158.3 rating.

Maybe something *has* clicked for Cousins over the last two months. Since the Redskins lost to the Jets on October 18th, Cousins has thrown 16 touchdowns and only been picked off three times in eight games, in which Washington has gone 5-3 and surged to the top of the NFC East.

Pour one out for RGIII, folks. I think the slim chance he had of returning to DC has disappeared.

[CBS Sports]

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.