Rivera: Smith could 'possibly' be Washington's long-term answer at QB

After Alex Smith worked his way into NFL fans' hearts, he could be playing his way into Washington's long-term plans.

Head coach Ron Rivera said Smith could "possibly" be the team's quarterback of the future after he threw for 390 yards during his first start in nearly two years, according to ESPN's John Keim.

"That's something we as coaches and as an organization have to talk about, most certainly, if he continues to play at this level," Rivera said Monday.

Smith also led Washington back from a 21-point deficit during Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Washington has endured a quarterback carousel this season. The team benched Dwayne Haskins after its first four games, while Kyle Allen reportedly suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9.

Although Smith has thrown for 715 yards over the last two weeks, Rivera noted the quarterback's age will play a role in the team's decision.

"You've got to look at how much longer you think he can play, how much longer does he want to play?" Rivera added.

Smith, 36, will account for a $24.4-million cap hit next season, but Washington can cut ties with him and incur a dead cap hit of $10.8 million, according to Spotrac.

The veteran quarterback said earlier this month he'll wait until the offseason to make a decision on his NFL future, according to NBC Sports' Matt Weyrich.

Washington is currently 2-7 and owns the NFL's 29th-ranked scoring offense.