Quarterback Dwayne Haskins fined, in line to start for Washington if needed

Dwayne Haskins was handed a hefty fine Wednesday for partying with people not wearing a mask but will start at quarterback for Washington on Sunday against Carolina if Alex Smith isn’t healthy enough to go.

The organization fined Haskins $40,000 for violating COVID-19 protocols, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the fine.

“I know my team needs me, and I need to step up to the plate and I can’t be selfish, and I need to stop getting in my own way,” Haskins said. “I’ll do everything in my power to make the most of my second chance.”

Haskins apologized to teammates, took the first-team snaps in practice, and is in line to play against the Panthers if needed with the NFC East title potentially at stake — as long as he doesn’t test positive for the coronavirus this week. He apologized publicly Tuesday for his actions after photos showing him without a mask around several other people surfaced on social media.

The 2019 first-round pick said he was at a private birthday party for his girlfriend.

“There were more than 10 people who weren’t wearing masks and that’s a violation regardless of where I was at, but I did not attend a strip club,” Haskins said.

Rivera said the organization worked out an agreement with the NFL for Haskins to be tested twice a day and wear a mask on under his helmet with a face shield to practice.

Rivera refused to say what the internal discipline was for Haskins and bristled at a continued line of questions about the quarterback he benched and demoted to third-string this season.

“What’s important for this franchise right now is that we’re going forward,” Rivera said. “We play on Sunday. The game on Sunday, to me, is...