Don’t count out Alex Smith as Washington’s potential starter

Now medically cleared after a gruesome leg injury, veteran quarterback Alex Smith could start for Washington if he reaches his 2018 form.

Washington quarterback Alex Smith has been the forgotten man in the team’s quarterback room following his gruesome 2018 leg injury, but after ESPN reported that he was cleared by his surgical team for full football activities, the veteran signal-caller could steal the starting job away from second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

New head coach Ron Rivera certainly seems to agree. According to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, Rivera plans to give Smith the opportunity to compete for the starting job, and if he reaches his pre-injury form, he may be the favorite.

Rivera’s statement comes off not only as an indictment of Haskins, but also as a culture change in Washington. The former Carolina Panthers head coach is committed to winning, and the new front office has no ties to the 23-year-old. After a rocky rookie season, it would not be surprising for Washington to make the change.

While Smith’s health and recovery are still question marks, he has been one of the most consistent, underrated quarterbacks in the NFL over the course of his career. Although he may have a lower ceiling than a young player like Haskins, a healthy Smith has a very high floor.

A pocket passer with underrated scrambling ability, Smith has 193 passing touchdowns to 101 career interceptions and led a subpar Washington team to a 6-3 record before his leg injury. With a talented receiving corps, including second-year wideouts Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims, Smith could provide a degree of stability that Washington has not seen at the position for a long time.

If Washington hopes to end the season with a respectable record, a healthy Smith is the man for the job. Even if his injury proves too much to overcome, his comeback is nothing short of remarkable, and 36-year-old should be lauded for his perseverance.