Washington signing QB Steven Montez to active roster from practice squad

The Washington Football Team is signing rookie quarterback Steven Montez to their 53-man roster from the practice squad, head coach Ron Rivera announced, per John Keim of ESPN. Montez takes the roster spot opened by the release of 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins.

Washington had three active quarterbacks in each of the last two games due to Alex Smith’s injured right calf. Smith is listed as questionable for Sunday’s Week 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was limited in practice Thursday and Friday, and the team hopes he is available to start.

However, the team is being taking precautionary steps. Taylor Heinicke, who has one NFL start coming in 2018, will start against the Eagles if Smith is unable to play. Regardless, Montez is likely to be active.

Washington had to sign Montez to the 53-man roster to have him available to play Sunday. The team had exhausted their allowed two elevations with him the past two weeks.

Montez joined Washington this offseason as an undrafted rookie out of the University of Colorado. He signed to the practice squad after not making the final cuts following training camp. There he’s continued his development sitting behind the combinations of Smith, Haskins, Allen and Heinicke throughout the season.