Kirk Cousins always understood his role and he knew what the Washington Redskins had invested in Robert Griffin III. So, while Cousins takes over the quarterback duties indefinitely, he also knows it might not be permanent.

Kirk Cousins is embracing his opportunity to start at quarterback for the Redskins while Robert Griffin III rehabs his dislocated ankle. Rich Schultz/Getty Images

His coach told the New York media in a conference call that "crazy things can happen." In other words, there is a way for Cousins to keep the job when Griffin is healthy. Certainly, if the Redskins are winning and Cousins is playing well, it makes sense to stay status quo, rather than return to a player coming off an injury who remains in transition to the style desired by the head coach.

So, for now, it's a line that Cousins straddles. A quarterback wants it to be "his team." But can that be the case when it might be a temporary gig? Cousins said last week that this remained Griffin's team. His stance hasn't changed, nor should it after one good start.

"That's a great question," Cousins told reporters Tuesday. "It's a tough dynamic to fully answer. As a quarterback, if there's any doubt in the other 10 guys in the huddle looking at me, 'Can this guy get it done for us? Can he move the ball?' Then I already failed. When I say this is Robert's team, I don't mean I can't step in and have authority and make sure we move the football. But I won't change the statement that this is Robert's team. I stand by that."

Cousins wants a starting job, or, at least, a fair shot to win one. He did not think that opportunity would arise in Washington -- he was clear last offseason he understood why and had no problem with the organization's thinking. When you invest heavily in a player as the Redskins have, you must see it through. It's like that in any sport.

But there's also no doubt Cousins believes he can be a good starter in the NFL. And he certainly would not reject the chance to continue being the starter in Washington. We're a long way from that reality. Cousins has the best chance of his career to prove what he can do -- a better one than at the end of a dreadful season with a coach on the way out.

However, Cousins is realistic about the situation.

"Robert was drafted high for a reason," he said. "He's had success here, he's done a lot of good things and he's done nothing to have that be any different. So this is his team and it's my job as a backup on this team to hopefully, when he comes back, to give him a team with a good record and put him in a good spot to have success down the stretch. By no means that does that say I can't go in there as a backup and get the job done."