Washington are making a quarterback change for Week 5 after announcing Dwayne Haskins has been benched in favour of Kyle Allen.

Haskins began his second year as the starter but could only lead Washington to a 1-3 record across the first quarter of 2020, though Ron Rivera's team are only 0.5 games back of the Philadelphia Eagles in a poor NFC East.

QB Haskins has thrown for 939 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions, but ranks near the bottom of the list for quarterbacks in various categories, including passer rating (80.3 - 29th), completion percentage (61 per cent - 27th) and touchdown percentage (2.7 per cent - joint 28th), while only four QBs have taken more sacks than his 13.

He was the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft but the former Ohio State Buckeye has a combined 3-8 record in his 11 starts, and his career completion percentage is below 60 per cent.

Former Carolina Panthers head coach Rivera gave his old team a fifth-round draft pick to acquire Allen in March.

Washington's offensive coordinator Scott Turner was the quarterback coach in Carolina for each of Allen's two seasons as a Panther.

Allen, who went undrafted in 2018, has started 13 games in his career, compiling a 6-7 record, and he will make his 14th against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

His career passer rating (82), completion percentage (62.1 per cent), touchdown percentage (3.7 per cent) and yards per attempt (6.9) are all better than Haskins' figures, though Washington's previous starter has a marginally better interception percentage (2.9 per cent to Allen's 3.1).

Veteran Alex Smith, who has come back from 17 surgeries and a near amputation of his leg, will be Allen's backup.