Alex Smith is missing practice again for Washington before playoff game

The Washington Football Team is preparing for a playoff as Alex Smith is not at practice. 

At 7-9, the Washington Football Team somehow managed to win the NFC East. Ron Rivera seems to be the man for the job and the culture that surrounding a struggling franchise has entered the rebuild.

The real storyline surrounding the D.C. team is on quarterback Alex Smith. Over 600 days ago, Smith suffered one of the most gruesome leg injuries in the history of the sport. Nearly two years later, he’ll suit up for a playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Or will he?

Smith did not practice with the team during drills Tuesday, according to The Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. This could just hope of resting him for Sunday, but the 36-year-old will need to see reps in practice to keep his body fresh.

Smith’s comeback saved the franchise’s season

Smith might be the sole Reason for the franchise even making the playoffs in the first place. The team went 5-1 with him as the starting quarterback in 2020, their best with one of the three starting quarterbacks.

During Week 15 and 16, Smith would miss time due to a lingering leg injury. Former first-round quarterback Dwayne Haskins would struggle in both starts, losing five of six games on the season. Washington released Haskins following a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16.

According to reports, Washington is considering playing both Smith and backup Taylor Heinicke on Saturday evening. Smith, who returned to action against the Philadelphia Eagles, went 22 of 32 passes for 162 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also took three sacks on the evening.

Heinicke has seen playing time just once against his former Panthers teammates. Rivera and the former Old Dominion worked together in Carolina before his firing in 2019.

Washington needs more than a perfect game plan to beat Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. They need healthy players to be ready to go. They don’t have that entering a prove-it week.