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Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith is "recovering nicely" from the broken tibia and fibula he suffered last November, Washington head coach Jay Gruden told reporters Tuesday.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Gruden also said Smith could return to the field "sooner than people think."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in January that Washington was operating under the assumption Smith would miss the entire 2019 season. The team acquired Case Keenum from the Denver Broncos and selected Dwayne Haskins with the 15th pick of the 2019 draft.

Washington shared a glimpse into Smith's recovery when it posted a picture of him throwing a ball during OTAs in May:

Gruden referenced that photo, saying Smith can "play catch."

Pelissero provided an update from Washington's minicamp, reporting Keenum was earning positive reviews from his teammates:

Even if Smith makes a full recovery midway through the season, he won't be guaranteed to immediately resume starting duties.

Haskins is the long-term answer at quarterback, and his development is the team's top priority. If Keenum gets off to a slow start, the calls from fans to start Haskins will reach a fever pitch. Keenum could also outperform expectations and get Washington in the NFC playoff race.

In either scenario, moving Smith up in the depth chart would arguably be counterproductive in the middle of the year.