Washington Football Team: Five players to watch in Week 10 vs. Lions
1. QB Alex Smith
The last time that Alex Smith started an NFL game was against the Houston Texans in November of 2018. In that contest, Smith suffered a brutal leg injury that caused him to have 17 surgeries, nearly lose his leg, and nearly lose his life.
Now, nearly two years to the day of his injury, he will be returning to the field and starting again for Washington. For Smith, the fact that he has returned to the field is a win but in his first start back, he will also be looking to earn a victory.
Smith came in to relieve an injured Kyle Allen in Week 9 and he looked good as a passer. He threw for over 300 yards and made some good plays in the intermediate range of the field when targeting Cam Sims. Yes, he threw three picks and he did check down the ball quite often, but he helped get the offense on track in a game that otherwise could’ve gone south fast.
Washington will need Smith to continue to look downfield for Terry McLaurin and Co. in this game. More importantly though, they’ll need him to avoid critical interceptions, as Washington simply isn’t the type of team that can overcome those types of massive mistakes. The Lions have a beatable defense on the ground and through the air, they’re young and inexperienced. Smith, a 15-year veteran, has to be able to take advantage of that.
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Smith’s play will decide whether or not Washington wins this game. While returning to the field and earning a start is certainly a massive personal win for Smith himself, he will definitely want to earn a victory and put a bow on what already should be viewed as the greatest injury comeback in NFL history.