Newly acquired tight end Alex Smith was surprised to receive a call from Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden this week. His former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator needed a backup tight end once the team placed Derek Carrier on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his right knee.
“[Gruden] said, ‘Are you in shape, are you ready?’ ” Smith said on Wednesday, following his first practice with the Redskins. “I said, ‘Absolutely. What took you so long?’”
The phone has been silent for Smith since he was cut by the New Orleans Saints during training camp. The 33-year-old didn’t receive a tryout through the first 14 weeks as he waited for an opportunity while training in Tampa, Fla.