

Kirk Cousins has thrown one touchdown in two games. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Whether it’s the pressure of playing under the franchise tag or of leading a team with heightened expectations, through two weeks, Kirk Cousins has looked nothing like the quarterback who led the Redskins to seven wins in their final 10 regular-season games last year. As Washington looks to avoid an 0-3 start against the New York Giants, Redskins Coach Jay Gruden’s advice to his QB is to just chill out.

“I think he just needs to relax, calm down and play the position,” Gruden told CSN’s Rob Carlin, when asked how he handles a quarterback who appears to be struggling with the mental side of the game. “He’s got all the talent, without a doubt. He’s already proven that he can make all the throws. Now he just needs to go out there and play.

“Take every series, every game as a separate entity and go out and perform with a lot of great confidence and let the people know who’s in charge. He’s done that for the most part; he just hasn’t played up to expectations. Expectations are very high for him right now. The numbers that he put up last year were very good, and now everybody expects that week in and week out, and he hasn’t lived up to them so far this year. We imagine that if he keeps grinding and keeps working, he’ll get back to that same level.”

[Jay Gruden: ‘We have total faith that [Kirk Cousins] will turn the corner]

Cousins threw 23 touchdowns against only three interceptions over his final 10 games of 2015 and led the NFL in completion percentage. He’s already thrown three interceptions this season, and has missed several open receivers for would-be touchdowns. Carlin asked Gruden if he gets the sense that Cousins is thinking too much on the field, rather than relying on instinct.