Ex-Washington QB Dwayne Haskins signs with Steelers

Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Former Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced.

The two sides met earlier Thursday before Haskins officially signed the agreement.

Washington released Haskins on Dec. 28, a day after he was benched in a 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. WFT head coach Ron Rivera said last month that the move would be beneficial for both parties.

"I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways," Rivera said at the time. "We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward."

Haskins, drafted No. 15 overall by Washington in 2019, was often criticized for his lack of work ethic and maturity. Earlier this season, he had been photographed without a mask at a party following a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was fined $40,000 for his second violation of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols and stripped of his captaincy.

In a tweet, Haskins wrote: "I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of a NFL QB [and] will become a better man [and] player because of this experience."

The 23-year-old Haskins could eventually replace Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has one year remaining on his contract. Roethlisberger has yet to determine his future with the team.

In 16 career games with Washington, Haskins completed 60.1% of his passes for 2,804 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

This week in the National Football League

The Cleveland Browns won the AFC Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 in a nearly empty Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' Jordan Dangerfield bows his head following the 48-37 Browns win. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Browns' Donovan Peoples-Jones (L) celebrates his touchdown. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' Eric Ebron (L) is chased by the Browns' Myles Garrett out of bounds. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' James Conner (R) tries to hold onto the ball with pressure from the Browns. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Browns' M.J. Stewart (R) intercepts a Ben Roethlisberger pass. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Browns' race to recover a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (C) has a pass interrupted by the Browns' Andrew Sendejo. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady (R) and head coach Bruce Arians shake hands after the Buccaneers defeated the Washington Football Team 31-23 on Saturday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Logan Thomas (L) is unable to make an attempted first down catch under pressure from the Buccaneers' defenders. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Brady (R) hugs Cameron Brate in the second half of a wild card playoff game. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Taylor Heinicke (C) runs against the Buccaneers. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Heinicke (R) dives into the end zone to score against the Buccaneers. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Heinicke (4) celebrates after throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steven Sims Jr. against the Buccaneers. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Buccaneers' Cameron Brate (C) is stopped by Washington Football Team defenders Jeremy Reaves (L) and Kendall Fuller. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Cam Sims brings in a pass against the Buccaneers. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The Buccaneers' Leonard Fournette (C) runs against Washington. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) celebrates with teammate Chris Godwin (R) after a 36-yard touchdown against during the first half. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Brady throws to Antonio Brown for a 36-yard touchdown. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

The Buccaneers' Antonio Brown (L) scores in front of Washington's Jimmy Moreland (C) and Ronald Darby on a 36-yard touchdown. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Steven Sims Jr. brings in an 11-yard touchdown. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Washington's Logan Thomas (R) misses a pass. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Brady throws downfield. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Heinicke (L) celebrates a quarterback keeper touchdown. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

A Washington Football Team security official keeps watch from the stands near cardboard cutouts arranged in a social distancing pattern. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo