The Washington football team believes it looks “very promising” for quarterback Alex Smith to start Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the team wants to see how the calf feels during pre-game warm-ups before taking a final decision, a source told Adam of ESPN. Schefter.
Smith, who played Friday for the second day in a row, appears questionable for Sunday’s game, but a source said Washington plans to start, as it has done all week.
Washington (6-9) will win the NFC East if it beats the Eagles (4-10-1). The team has lost two consecutive games with Smith unable to play.
Smith practiced back-to-back days for the first time since suffering a tense right calf during a Dec. 13 game against San Francisco. Last week, Smith did not practice until the Friday before the game; his calf did not respond well the next day and lost his second consecutive game.
If Smith can’t play, the start would go to Taylor Heinicke, who replaced Dwayne Haskins Jr. in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 20-13 defeat against Carolina. In two units, Heinicke completed 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown.
Haskins was released Monday after fighting on the field of play and running the COVID-19 protocols.
Washington signed Heinicke on Dec. 8 to his training team; has been on the active list for the last two games.