Beck gets QB start for Redskins

ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- John Beck will take over Sunday as starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins, the NFL team said Wednesday.

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan reportedly told the team's quarterbacks and other coaches Wednesday morning that he was benching Rex Grossman and turning to Beck.

Beck, a 30-year-old fifth-year pro, was inserted in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's game and led Washington on an 80-yard scoring drive -- running the ball in from the 2 himself -- in a 20-13 Redskins' loss to Philadelphia. He completed 8-of-15 passes for 117 yards.

When the Redskins play at Carolina Sunday it will mark Beck's fifth NFL start. The other four came in the 2007 season when he was with Miami. He hadn't appeared in an NFL game since then until the Philadelphia game.

Grossman started the first five games for Washington, completing 92-of-165 passes for 1,132 yards and six touchdowns. He also had nine interceptions.

The Redskins averaged 19.2 points a game this season, a figure that is 24th in the NFL.