NASHVILLE, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Veteran Danny Wuerffel Saturday was named the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins when they play the Titans Sunday in Nashville Sunday.
The announcement was made by a terse Steve Spurrier, who has been besieged with questions about his quarterback plans for the past two weeks.
Wuerffel emerged as the front-runner for the job in the days after the Redskins' 20-10 loss at San Francisco Sept. 22. He will be making his first start in an NFL regular season game since 1998, when he was with the New Orleans Saints.
Spurrier had left open the competition between Wuerffel and rookie Patrick Ramsey, though he had indicated as the week wore on that Wuerffel would be the choice.
"We're going to give Danny an opportunity to play this game," Spurrier said. "He's set to go, he's practiced well. We have confidence he's going to play well. He's much more knowledgeable than Patrick, and he's the best prepared to play right now."
"I'm fired up," said Wuerffel. "It's a great opportunity. I love the game of football and I'm ready to use my mind and my body to have fun and to help the team win. I just try to be prepared for opportunities and sometimes they're few and far between. So as players, we always look forward to things like this."
Spurrier indicated that Ramsey would back up Wuerffel, and Shane Matthews, who started the team's first three games this season but was replaced in their two losses, will be the No. 3 third quarterback. He has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in the season-opening win over Arizona.
Ramsey has never taken a snap in a regular-season game.
"I think Danny will play well," Ramsey said. "If I get a chance, I'll make the most of it. Any competitor wants to get the chance, but I trust (Coach) Spurrier's decision. I'm just going to continue to progress and make the most of it when I'm called upon. I have no butterflies. This is what I've been preparing for. I feel much more prepared than I did a few weeks ago."
Spurrier also said that tight end Walter Rasby will play, but counterpart Zeron Flemister will start, and that tackle Chris Samuels and cornerback Fred Smoot, both of whom missed practice time this week, are expected to start.
