Redskins: Is the team’s offense doomed after injuries?

While Redskins fans have spent the week making funeral arrangements for Washington’s 2018 season and listening to “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion on repeat, Sunday’s game in Tampa will proceed as scheduled. However, one thing remains on everyone’s mind; is this offense doomed?

With the departure of Brandon Scherff, Shawn Lauvao and Paul Richardson, Redskins fans, media, and front office members are in full panic mode. The burgundy and gold have been down this dark path before. It was only a year ago that former Redskin Kirk Cousins was being introduced to new offensive linemen in the locker room hours before kickoff, marking the beginning of the end for the 2017 season.

The Redskins sit atop the NFC East at 5-3, something they didn’t have the luxury of this time last year. During the chaos of the past week, success is still in their hands, and the division title is theirs to defend.

The Eagles, however, are in the rearview mirror, and this object is a lot closer than it may appear.

In the race for the NFC East, the Cowboys are in dire straights, needing a win on Sunday to resuscitate their season back to life. The New York Giants meanwhile wrecked their car before the race even started.

The NFC East, for right now, is a two-man race between Philidelphia and Washington. However, the injuries to the Redskins offense signal hazard lights ahead to the Eagles who are coming off of a bye week and ready to pass Alex Smith and the Redskins out.

Is this offense doomed? Possibly. Adrian Peterson and the Redskins defense has buttered the bread for Jay Gruden’s squad up to this point. Without Pro-Bowl Guard Brandon Scherff, Peterson’s job just got a whole lot more difficult.

The departure of Paul Richardson for the season has also taken away the deep threat club from Alex Smith’s bag. For one, Smith has struggled to push the ball deep downfield. Only on a handful of occasions has Smith stretched a defense with his arm. Now, with that option gone, the run-pass option plays just became the new plan of action

Here is the good news. They have the tools to make that work.

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Jordan Reed is healthy and has drastically been underused up to this point. Jamison Crowder is on the road to return, and from the slot has proved to be a speed piece over the middle, and Maurice Harris has done nothing but prove he deserves the ball more.

The offensive ship, however, doesn’t move without the guidance of their captain, Smith. Smith showed his athletic ability on a 22-yard scramble against the Falcons. The run-pass option has worked for Smith in the past and can work now. It comes down to execution.

Quick passes and run pass options are the only things between this offense working, and the Redskins being passed out by Philly.

It’s a matter of making it work for this team. Jay Gruden has earned his paycheck’s over the past few years reworking a broken roster. This week, a patchwork offensive line is what will make things that much more difficult.

But the Redskins have a defense to keep the boat afloat, and the schedule ahead is a whole lot easier compared to the schedule to start the year. It will come down to Alex Smith to make this offense work.

Can he? We will find out in Tampa Bay.