The Washington Football Team released their depth chart Tuesday heading into Week 1. Kyle Allen is listed ahead of Alex Smith as the team’s backup quarterback behind starter Dwayne Haskins.
Washington traded a fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers for Allen. Allen spent two seasons in Carolina under Washington head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner.
Allen was initially slated to compete with Haskins for the starting quarterback. However, Haskins took hold of the position with a strong off-season and developing relationship with Rivera.
Last season, Allen started 12 games in Carolina with Cam Newton out with injury. Allen threw for 3,322 yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
Meanwhile, Smith’s incredible comeback from his devastating leg injury will start with him as the third QB. That may mean he could be inactive Sunday when Washington faces the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith being on a 53-man roster is an accomplishment itself given the magnitude of his injury and the complications that followed. After 17 surgeries and 20 months after he suffered a compound fracture in a November 2018 game, Smith was cleared to return to the practice field.
He progressed throughout training camp and eventually participated in full-contact 11-on-11 drills last week, according to Rivera. While Rivera stated he would be comfortable playing Smith against the Eagles, being the third quarterback will allow him more time to build up to an eventual return to the field.
