Rivera noncommittal on Smith returning: We're looking at all options
Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera didn't guarantee Alex Smith's spot on the roster during Wednesday's press conference.
"We'll see how it goes, but right now we're in a situation we're looking at all of our options," Rivera said, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
Smith returned from a serious leg injury in 2020 and played in more games than any other Washington quarterback despite beginning the season in a backup role. However, the veteran ranked just 31st in yards per attempt (6.3) and 29th in yards per game (197.8).
New Washington general manager Martin Mayhew praised Smith for stepping up but acknowledged the need for improvement.
"We've just to go through the process. We've got a lot of work to do," Mayhew said, according to Matthew Paras of The Washington Times.
Washington offered a first-round and third-round pick for former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford before he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.
Mayhew stressed being practical when pursuing a franchise-caliber passer, saying he aims to be "smart" but also "aggressive." Rivera agreed, adding that Washington will be patient.
"We've got to make sure we find the right one. That's the key," Rivera said. "We're going to exhaust every avenue. Would I like to find one? Absolutely. But we're not in a hurry,"
Washington won the NFC East this season despite finishing with a 7-9 record.