Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
The Washington Football Team believes it will have quarterback Alex Smith back in time for the Sunday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided the newest on Smith, who suffered a calf strain against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 13 and has been out ever since.
Washington head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Monday that Taylor Heinicke will start if Smith is unable to play and would serve as the backup over Dwayne Haskins Jr. in case of the veteran’s return to the lineup.
Any harm to Smith is guaranteed to raise some red flags given his background. He conquered life-threatening complications in the leg injury suffered in November 2018 and returned this season, which was one of the best stories of this year in any game.
Smith is a three-time Pro Bowler who has been productive for much of a career that also includes stops using the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. He has completed 66.4 percentage of his passes for 1,420 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games this year.
Haskins, an Ohio State merchandise, was in and out of the lineup this season and hasn’t always looked like the long term option that the team had been hoping to get when it selected him with the No. 15 overall choice in the 2019 draft. He was benched during the team’s 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers past Sunday, and Heinicke took over.
Washington will win the NFC East with a victory over the Eagles. A loss will continue to keep the team from the playoffs.