Could Alex Smith start for Washington in 2021?

Quarterback Alex Smith wasn't supposed to start for the Washington Football Team this fall. It's a medical miracle he's on the depth chart at all following the career-threatening injury he suffered in 2018 that included breaking the fibula and tibia in his right leg. 

However, head coach Ron Rivera had little choice but to turn to the 36-year-old after he relegated 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins to third on the depth chart and then lost Kyle Allen to a dislocated ankle in a loss to the New York Giants on Nov. 8.

Smith hasn't disappointed. He completed a career-high 38-of-55 passes for 390 yards in this past Sunday's 30-27 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions. Despite the result, Rivera couldn't help but look beyond this season when speaking about Smith with reporters on Monday. 

"You've got to look at how much longer you think he can play, how much longer does he want to play?" Rivera explained when asked if Smith could be the team's answer at the position, according to Nick Shook of the NFL's official website. "And if so, is he part of your plan? That's something that we as a coaching staff and as an organization have to talk about, most certainly if this continues, if he continues to play at this high level."

According to Spotrac, Smith is signed through 2022 but could be a salary-cap casualty for either of the next two years. He also carries relatively low cap hits for a veteran QB through the remainder of the deal. If nothing else, he could prove to be a stopgap signal-caller until Washington drafts a next hoped-to-be franchise savior.