BALTIMORE (AP) -- Jay Gruden intends to judge the health of Robert Griffin III before choosing his starting quarterback in the regular season.
If RG3 can't go, then Kirk Cousins is more than happy to take his place atop the Redskins' depth chart.
Cousins filled in capably for Griffin on Saturday night, throwing for 190 yards and a touchdown as Washington beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-13.
With Griffin sidelined by a concussion, Cousins went 20 for 27 with an interception to help the Redskins take a 14-13 halftime lead. His second TD pass of the preseason came on a deflection plucked out of the air and carried into the end zone by Jamison Crowder.
There's still time left to pick his starter, so Gruden isn't going to rush the decision.
''Right now, I'm going to evaluate the game, go from there and find out how Robert is doing,'' the second-year coach said. ''I'm not going to announce anything. There's no controversy.''
He had no logical explanation why Griffin was cleared to play against the Ravens (1-2) on Thursday, then deemed unfit to return on Friday.
''We're all as confused as you are,'' Gruden said. ''People have to understand this has nothing to do with the Redskins. I know people want to make it out that we're incompetent, but we're not.''
Cousins, meanwhile, said he hasn't been told he will start on Sept. 13 against Miami. But he will prepare to do so anyway.
''Tell yourself you're the starter and prepare accordingly,'' said Cousins, who didn't play in the second half.
Colt McCoy started the third quarter for Washington (3-0) and produced touchdowns on his first two drives, although both scores came against Ravens reserves and the last march covered only 20 yards following an interception.
McCoy completed 10 of 12 passes for 95 yards and two TDs, both to Rashad Ross.
Tempers flared late in the first quarter after Washington's Keenan Robinson slammed receiver Kamar Aiken to the turf, headfirst, following a 13-yard completion. Several players began shoving each other, most notably Ravens receiver Steve Smith and Redskins cornerback Chris Culliver, both of whom were ejected.
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh ran across the field toward the scrum, and before turning back he yelled at Redskins coach Jay Gruden.
After reaching the Baltimore sideline, Smith bowed in the direction of the officiating crew. The 36-year-old is retiring after this season, and he might not have been so cordial had this been a regular-season game. In this case, however, Smith had no problem walking away after catching four passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
INJURY UPDATE
Redskins: WR Evan Spencer left with a concussion; S Duke Ihenacho hurt his arm in the second quarter but returned; FB Jordan Campbell left with a right shoulder injury.
Ravens: OL Ryan Jensen was removed from the game with a concussion.
SHOW HIM THE MONEY
Redskins: LT Trent Williams agreed on a five-year, $66 million contract before the game. So naturally, a lot of the Washington offense went to the left side. But the Redskins also have two young players - second-year tackle Morgan Moses and rookie Brandon Scherff - on the right side. Both were slow to move downfield as blockers on a first-quarter screen pass. Also, Moses had trouble containing Baltimore's Elvis Dumervil in rushing situations, and Scherff got bowled over by Terrell Suggs a couple of times. But the Redskins went the distance without yielding a sack.
THE JOB IS HIS
The Ravens' quarterback situation, unlike that of the Redskins, is settled. Joe Flacco will start the regular-season opener at Denver.
He went 8 for 13 for 137 yards and a touchdown in what was likely his final tuneup before the regular-season opener at Denver. He also had a touchdown pass to tight end Crockett Gilmore waved off because of a penalty.
''We need to clean some things up, but overall it's something to feel pretty good about,'' Flacco said.
PEACEMAKER
Harbaugh rushed onto to the field because he didn't like the pace at which peace was being restored.
'It's a preseason game, 90 guys on both benches, and it wasn't getting calmed down very quickly,'' he said. ''We get the memos and everything about the fighting, so I figured, 'Let me go out there and get our guys back out of the way and it will be fine.' That's kind of how it worked out.''
---
Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
2k