Report: Redskins do not expect Alex Smith to play in 2019
It’s still unknown if Alex Smith will ever be able to play football again. For now, it simply appears that he won’t play in 2019.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Washington Redskins do not expect their quarterback to be able to play in 2019 after breaking his leg last season, and are proceeding under the assumption that he will miss the entire season.
One storyline to follow for 2019: The #Redskins are planning as if they won’t have QB Alex Smith next season, sources say. They believe he’ll miss the entire season with his broken leg issues and are acting accordingly. If he’s ready, they will be pleasantly surprised.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 27, 2019
While disappointing, this news can’t come as a huge surprise. Smith’s leg injury and subsequent infection were so severe that his career appeared threatened, though more recent news has been a bit more optimistic on that front. In the meantime, Washington may want to scout out some short-term options to fill in for Smith, or they could simply go with Colt McCoy for 2019 and see where it takes them.