Two straight successful drafts have a youth movement looming. Haskins is clearly the heir apparent to Case Keenum, a stopgap who’s starting for his third team in three years. Penn awaits the end of Trent Williams’ holdout or the emergence of backup tackle Geron Christian. Flowers’ inconsistent summer has rookie Wes Martin on the brink. Derrius Guice is ready to supplant Peterson. Doctson and Richardson could give way to Cam Sims and rookie Terry McLaurin. Anderson will rotate with rookie Montez Sweat, with the latter on the cusp of playing with the first unit.

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Maybe a first-year coach with the luxury of time would play more youngsters. But Gruden is in an unofficial playoffs-or-bust situation. He’d rather stake his job on known quantities than newcomers. Indeed, Gruden cited Keenum’s experience as “something that you really lean upon.”

But everything could change after the first five games against the Eagles, Cowboys, Bears, Giants and Patriots — especially the Patriots. Anything less than a third straight start of 3-2 will bring doubt. If New England crushes the Redskins before a FedEx crowd loaded with Patriots fans, anything can happen.

The good news in perhaps another long, playoff-free season is that help is coming. Present needs will give way to future hopes unless the Redskins get off to a surprisingly good start.

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Thanks to rotating players, Sweat will get the most time among reserves. A strong preseason shows he simply needs snaps to start competing with Ryan Kerrigan for most sacks. Guice will get 10 or so carries per game even if Peterson runs even more than last season. Sims and McLaurin will see increasing snaps. Haskins, Martin and Christian will work the scout team until an opportunity arises.

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But after 27 starting quarterbacks since Mark Rypien ended the Redskins’ golden era in 1993, it’s easy to expect Haskins to play whether he’s ready or not.

“[Haskins has] to continue to prepare and get better,” Gruden said. “That’s every quarterback, that’s every position on the field, whether you’re a starter or not you have to prepare like you’re a starter. When your number is called, you’ve got to be ready to go.”

The second wave looks ready to go.