Alex Smith Plays for 1st Time Since 2018 Injury After Kyle Allen Exits vs. Rams

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith completed his first pass in an NFL game since 2018 in Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.  

Smith replaced Kyle Allen, who picked up an arm injury, in the second quarter. He completed a six-yard pass to J.D. McKissic.

Allen started in place of Dwayne Haskins, a move that was announced earlier this week. Haskins was expected to be the team's No. 3 quarterback and is battling a stomach virus.

Smith has not been active since suffering a catastrophic leg injury in November 2018. Many expected his career to be over, but Smith was able to make a remarkable recovery and join the active roster during the offseason. 

Haskins replaced Case Keenum midway through the 2019 season. Based on his performance, Washington threw him into the fire before he was ready.

The former Ohio State star threw for 1,365 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 58.6 percent of his passes. Just when things started clicking for Haskins toward the end of the year, he suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's penultimate game that ruled him out for the finale.

The team acquired Allen from the Carolina Panthers to shore up its depth at quarterback this offseason. Allen made 12 starts in 2019 after replacing Cam Newton, so this won't be an unfamiliar position for him.