EAST LANSING — Former Michigan State star and current Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins made the most of his two series against the Tennessee Titans in NFL preseason action on Thursday night, going 6-of-7 passing for 52 yards, one touchdown and a 137.2 passer rating.

Cousins got the start with Robert Griffin III still sidelined by a knee injury.

Cousins told MLive.com in an exclusive June interview that he prepares for every week as though he's going to start, something he learned while competing for the starting job at Michigan State.

"I think there are multiple ways to look at it to stay positive,'' Cousins said. "I can't explain it without mentioning my faith. I believe God brought me to Washington D.C. for a reason. I believe there's a purpose to it. I take confidence in that.

"If I'm good enough, and if I deserve a chance to start, the cream will rise to the top. Maybe not as fast as some people would like, but I'm not in a hurry to be a starter, because I know if I'm good enough, it will happen in time.''

Cousins, drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, started two games in place of the injured Griffin III last season.

In his first start, against Tampa Bay in the final preseason game, Cousins was 15-of-22 passing for 222 yards in a 30-3 victory.

He didn't get his second start until the 15th week of the season at Cleveland, where he threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in a victory that helped Washington win the NFL East Division.

"Kirk has definitely shown that he can play in the National Football League," 16-year veteran linebacker London Fletcher told Washington.cbslocal.com. "It started [last] preseason. He did some good things in the preseason games to where Coach [Mike] Shanahan felt good enough about making him the No. 2 guy as a rookie [ahead of 2011 starter Rex Grossman]."

Cousins' final regular-season statistics from last season were: 33-of-48 passing for 466 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Griffin III is expected to return from his injury in the preseason and assume the starting duties once more.

Cousins spent a great deal of time in Michigan in the offseason, doing the color analysis for the Spartans Green-White Spring Game for the Big Ten Network, and promoting his book "Game Changer.''

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