ASHBURN, Va. -- Steve Spurrier's latest quarterback change came with a warning label: rough days ahead.

The Washington Redskins coach announced Monday that Shane Matthews had regained the starting job, then conceded that whoever holds the position is "going to get hit'' playing behind an offensive line that allowed six more sacks in Sunday's 30-9 loss at Green Bay.

"The protection was not super, but it's not going to be super,'' Spurrier said. "So we don't need to come in here every week and say the quarterback got hit. He's going to get hit.''

Spurrier's third starting quarterback change of the season came after rookie Patrick Ramsey struggled for the second straight week, fumbling five times and overthrowing several open receivers against the Packers.

"Patrick had three games, playing very well the first game, and since then it hasn't worked out,'' Spurrier said. "He's obviously not as prepared as he should be.''

Spurrier said he expects Matthews to finish the season, although he said the same thing about Ramsey two weeks ago.

"Overall, we believe Shane Matthews gives our team the best chance to win games,'' Spurrier said. "Nobody's mad at anybody. We just feel that's the best direction to go right now.

"He's our quarterback. He's the guy that takes us however far we go this year.''

In an unusual turn of events, the new starter went to extreme measures to avoid discussing his promotion. Matthews had his SUV brought to the back door of Redskins Park and drove it around the building, speeding past reporters without stopping.

Matthews will need to be equally evasive when he lines up against the Colts. The Redskins have allowed 22 sacks, third most in the league, including 13 in the past two weeks. Matthews, who has a wiry frame, was battered when he started the first three games of the season and sprained his non-throwing shoulder against Philadelphia.

"We're not real mobile at the quarterback position, so we're not going to sprint out and go all over the place,'' Spurrier said. "We've got to do what we can do best. We're trying to figure it out.''

Spurrier actually toned down the game plan against the Packers, running more and looking less like the innovator of the Fun 'n' Gun. It didn't matter because the Redskins -- from quarterback to receiver to offensive line -- have yet to show they have the talent to score regularly no matter what the scheme.

To that end, Spurrier is making another change, re-promoting Rod Gardner back to the starting lineup at receiver in place of Chris Doering. Derrius Thompson remains the other starter.

"When you have star players that play well every week, then obviously you don't have any shuffling to do,'' Spurrier said. "But when you're trying to find out who your best players are, to me you've got to give them all an opportunity.''

A potential solution to the offensive line problems arrived Monday for a workout. Tre Johnson, a powerful but often-injured guard when he played for the Redskins from 1994-2000, has been looking for work since Cleveland cut him this year.

The Redskins desperately need another starter at guard, and they need left tackle Chris Samuels to rediscover his form. Samuels, having a subpar season because of several injuries, left Sunday's game early when he reinjured his ankle and hurt his shoulder.

Samuels said he thought he would play against the Colts, even though he did not yet have the results from an MRI.

"I'm a little sluggish because of my injuries, but I can't use that as an excuse,'' Samuels said.

Matthews started the first three games and was named NFC offensive player of the week for his 327-yard passing performance in the season opening victory over Arizona. But he was pulled for Danny Wuerffel at halftime of the Week 2 loss to Philadelphia and in the fourth quarter of a Week 3 loss at San Francisco.

Spurrier then went with Wuerffel as the starter in the fourth game at Tennessee, but Wuerffel's throwing shoulder was sprained in the first series. Ramsey finished the game, threw for 268 yards in a victorious NFL debut and was named the starter, but he's played very much like a rookie since.

"I'm disappointed in my performance more so than any of the decisions that were made,'' Ramsey said. "Coach is in charge of this ship, and that's his decision.''