Washington QB Taylor Heinicke gets first-team practice reps

With Washington Football Team starting quarterback Alex Smith still recovering from the strained calf that kept him out of a pair of December games, coach Ron Rivera hinted on Tuesday that he could rotate between Smith and backup Taylor Heinicke during Saturday evening's wild-card game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

That rotation may have already begun. 

Per the Around the NFL Staff, Rivera gave Heinicke first-team reps for Wednesday's practice session. 

Heinicke replaced former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins during Washington's Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers and completed 12-of-19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. After Washington fell to Carolina, reports surfaced that Heinicke would become Smith's full-time backup and that Rivera had dropped Haskins to the bottom of the depth chart for the second time this season. 

Washington instead released Haskins. 

Smith returned to action for last Sunday's regular-season finale against a Philadelphia Eagles team that had nothing to play for ahead of that prime-time showdown. The 36-year-old who is a favorite to earn Comeback Player of the Year honors matched two touchdowns with two interceptions but was hindered by his latest physical setback throughout the contest. Washington still won to clinch the division title and a home playoff game against the Buccaneers.