Report: Alex Smith expected to miss entire 2019 NFL season

Bad news for Washington.

Washington Redskins starting quarterback Alex Smith is expected to miss the entire 2019 NFL season, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport reported the Washington Redskins are planning as if they won’t have Smith in 2019, according to sources informed of the situation. Washington believes Smith will miss the entire season with issues stemming from the compound fracture suffered in Week 11. If Smith ends up being ready for the season, the Redskins will be pleasantly surprised, Rapoport added. Images of Smith’s leg, wrapped and held in place by an intricate brace, surfaced last week when he made an appearance at a Washington Wizards game, and caused newfound concern about Smith’s playing future. It wasn’t a simple cast Smith was wearing. This new information falls in line with what we saw of Smith, who dealt with infections after the initial surgery.

It’s not surprising to see that Smith likely won’t be playing in 2019 but it’s worth noting that Washington is going to base their offseason plan on him not being available. One can only wonder what Washington plans to do at quarterback.

Colt McCoy is currently Washington’s only healthy passer under contract for 2019. The 32-year-old veteran obviously knows Jay Gruden’s system well; he’s been with the team since 2014. Washington might just try to get through the 2019 season with McCoy, who would’ve finished out the 2018 season had he not suffered a broken right fibula against the Eagles in Week 13.

Alternatively, Washington could try to look for an upgrade at quarterback. And there’s likely going to be a Super Bowl MVP available for them to sign. That’s right, Nick Foles could potentially end up staying in the NFC East.

For what it’s worth, some NFL odds have Washington as Foles’ second most likely destination. Here’s what we previously wrote about the possibility:

Washington owns the No. 15 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. As with Miami, there’s no guarantee they can draft their desired quarterback prospect.

I can’t see Foles wanting to go to Washington given how they’re a dysfunctional mess. But I can see Washington getting desperate and trying to throw a big offer at him.

Washington was 6-3 and first in the NFC East last season prior to Smith getting hurt. Not having him for 2019 is obviously a significant blow to their chances to compete for the division title, although we’ll have to see how they replace Smith in the short-term.

In the long-term, the 34-year-old Smith is signed through the 2022 season. Washington can’t realistically get out of that contract until 2021 at the earliest.

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