HEADLINE

Reports: Redskins to sign QB Sanchez

The Sports Xchange

November 19, 2018 at 2:21 pm.

The Washington Redskins will sign Mark Sanchez to serve as the team’s backup quarterback, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

The move came on the heels of Alex Smith sustaining a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg on a sack in the third quarter of Sunday’s 23-21 loss to the Houston Texans.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Smith’s career is not thought to be in jeopardy after the injury.

Colt McCoy entered the game in place of the 34-year-old Smith, who was injured 33 years to the day of former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann. Theismann, ironically, was in attendance at Sunday’s game.

With Smith sidelined, Washington (6-4) brought in Sanchez, EJ Manuel, T.J. Yates, Kellen Clemens and Josh Johnson for a workout on Monday. Sanchez won the job and will serve as McCoy’s backup as the Redskins face a quick turnaround before Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day showdown with the Dallas Cowboys (5-5).

Sanchez is reunited with Redskins offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, who served as his quarterbacks coach with the New York Jets from 2009-12. He also will get reacquainted with Redskins offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who held the same title for three seasons during Sanchez’s time with the Jets.

The 32-year-old Sanchez served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs to start the season. He last started a game for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015, but served as a backup quarterback in Dallas the following year and in Chicago in 2017.

Sanchez has thrown for 86 touchdowns against 86 interceptions since being selected by the Jets with the fifth overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Washington traded a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller to the Kansas City Chiefs for Smith in January. The Redskins signed Smith to a four-year extension worth up to $94 million with $71 million guaranteed.

Smith has thrown for 2,180 yards and 10 touchdown passes against five interceptions this season.