by By David Elfin THE WASHINGTON TIMES , The Washington Times

The Washington Redskins quarterback, the epitome of coach Jim Zorn's preferred "medium" cool, spent the night after his benching in a 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday watching games on television, talking to his parents and wondering how he can help right the reeling Redskins .

If, that is, he's given the chance.

Zorn, already dealing with the forced relinquishment of his playcalling duties Sunday night, said he wasn't prepared to choose between Campbell and replacement Todd Collins to start against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

However, it is expected Zorn will stick with Campbell because the 27-year-old is more likely to escape the Eagles' pass rush than Collins, 37.

"I want to really make sure that I do the right thing there," Zorn said Monday, adding he will announce a decision no later than Thursday. "That'll be a hard decision. But Jason will not back down. He's a competitor. That's what I like about him. I could easily go back to Jason and say, 'Listen. You know that you gotta perform in this game.' "

Playing into any decision could be the absence of six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels.

Samuels will not play for the second straight week because of a serious neck injury, leaving whoever starts at quarterback for the Redskins on Monday vulnerable against an Eagles defense that has sacked the opposing passer 15 times this season.

"Jason has better mobility," Zorn said. "He's got a hose for an arm. Todd has been able to disperse the ball with a little better accuracy and rhythm. Each have their advantages."

Despite a career-worst 46.1 passer rating against the Chiefs, Campbell still ranks ahead of 14 other starting quarterbacks with an 84.3 season rating. However, the Washington offense has scored just eight touchdowns in six games, and the Redskins are 2-4 even though their last five foes have a combined 1-23 record against the rest of the league and have allowed 79 offensive touchdowns.

"Any competitor would be upset, but if you think I'm not getting the job done or I'm not making plays, then you have to do what you think is best for the team," Campbell said. "You have to be a professional about it. You have to be supportive. It's difficult. I can't just sit down, get down on myself and think that I'm the problem."

Some players declined to blame that lack of production on Campbell, who's 4-10 since the midpoint of last season with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

"We haven't scored; we haven't moved the ball," tight end Chris Cooley said. "I felt bad for Jason when Todd was cheered [by the crowd]. At the same time, you're putting Todd in a tough situation because he hadn't practiced all week."

Collins connected with Santana Moss for 42 yards on his first pass to set up a field goal, but he went just 5-for-13 for 33 yards the rest of the way.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall criticized Zorn's decision to bench Campbell.

"Obviously that didn't work, so that's not the change you need," Hall said. "I would've left Jason in. He had a bad half the first half [in Week 4 against Tampa Bay] and came out and got us going in the second half. I don't think it was the right move, but Coach made that move, and ain't nothing I can do about it. He made that move, and he has to live with it."

The Redskins finished last season on a 2-6 skid, prompting owner Dan Snyder and executive vice president Vinny Cerrato to try to replace Campbell in the offseason. Their attempts to trade for Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez failed.

"Right now, I'm preparing to be the starter for next week's game," said Campbell, who will be a free agent this winter. "It's not my decision. You have to push [the offseason] to the side. The main thing right now is to focus each and every week. All your performances are pretty much a brand which you put out on the field. You try to stay strong. You can't complain. You can't try to make excuses. You're dealt the cards that you're dealt, and you gotta deal with them."

Collins replaced the injured Campbell and led the Redskins on a magical 4-0 run to the playoffs in 2007, but he hadn't played since until Sunday.

"I was disappointed for Jason," Collins said. "Nobody likes to see somebody get pulled. I told him I know what that feels like. It's hard on both ends. When I got in there, I was disappointed I couldn't help the team come away with a win. All in all, it was a difficult day for both of us."

Notes - A Redskins spokesman said Hunter Smith was being examined by team doctors, and the punter wasn't available to give the media an update on the groin injury that sidelined him the past two games.

On Friday, Smith, who was hurt Oct. 4, termed it "a three-week injury." The Redskins hope the extra day this week will enable him to return for the Philadelphia game. ...

Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery, who was listed as inactive the past five weeks with an ailing knee, said he took full practice Thursday and Friday and is ready to play. But with Albert Haynesworth, Cornelius Griffin, Kedric Golston and Lorenzo Alexander in a rotation and even rookie end Jeremy Jarmon seeing time at tackle, Montgomery is the odd man out.

"I'm healthy again," said Montgomery, a starter in 2007 and the top backup last season. "It's all on them whether they put me out there. Of course, it's frustrating not playing, but if we win, that cures all. If we lose and I'm not playing, it's real frustrating."

Haynesworth, who delivered a postgame tirade in the locker room Sunday, was unavailable to the media afterward and again Monday.

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