For now, Alex Smith is the perfect Washington Football Team quarterback

Alex Smith is the perfect quarterback for the Washington Football Team right now.

Alex Smith led the league in passing yards on Sunday with a career-high 390 yards in the Washington Football Team’s 30-27 loss to the Detroit Lions. The performance followed Smith’s 325-yard game against the New York Giants, which Smith entered after Kyle Allen was carted off with an injury.

These games, the first back-to-back 300-yard games in Smith’s career, confirms one truth about the Washington Football Team: Alex Smith is the perfect fit to finish Washington’s season at quarterback.

The Washington Football Team is essentially out of options at quarterback. Allen underwent ankle surgery last week and will not return from injured reserve this season. Dwayne Haskins, only 19 months removed from being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, has been demoted and is unlikely to see the field barring injury.

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The only other quarterback on Washington’s roster, Steven Montez, is on the practice squad. The rookie undrafted free agent has never attempted an NFL pass.

That leaves Smith, who made his first NFL start since a leg fracture two years ago almost cost him his career and his life. Smith spent 2019 on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from multiple surgeries and a post-surgery infection that necessitated a muscle transfer.

Despite the odds, Smith is now the starter in Washington for the foreseeable future. While no fan could have expected that to be the case heading into 2020, Smith’s performances have proven him to be a serviceable stopgap quarterback to finish out the season.

On Sunday, Smith set career highs in yards, completions and attempts. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin came five yards short of his second-straight 100-yard game, while Cam Sims followed up his breakout performance against the Giants with a solid 54-yard game.

Smith’s job is simple: bridge the gap between Haskins and the next Washington quarterback. Despite having a 2-7 record, Washington is in a unique position where the team can still make the playoffs. With Smith under center, Washington has the talent at quarterback to make a run if management decides to take that route.

Making a playoff run would sacrifice a probable top-five draft pick. Currently, Washington would select fourth overall, with CBS Sports mocking Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell to the Washington Football Team. However, if management decides to draft a quarterback, BYU’s Zach Wilson and Alabama’s Mac Jones would still be available, among others.

All in all, Washington’s gamble on bringing Smith back onto the field has paid off. Smith, the likely Comeback Player of the Year, has been playing at a high level and is playing a less-mobile version of the style that Smith made his trademark pre-injury. With Smith under center, J.D. McKissic is more likely to catch a screen pass than McLaurin is to catch a 30-yard deep pass.

More games like Sunday from Smith are exactly what the Washington Football Team needs: a strong performance that keeps Washington in the game until the final seconds, while also preserving a high draft pick to select or trade for Smith’s replacement.

At age 36 and coming off a two-year injury recovery, Smith is not the long-term answer by any stretch. But Smith is now able to close out the competitive portion of his career on his own terms and serve as a veteran mentor to whomever Washington brings in for the 2021 season.

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Smith will look to make it three consecutive 300-yard games when the Washington Football Team host the 2-6-1 Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

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