Washington Football Team quarterback Kyle Allen dislocated his left ankle and also suffered a small fracture during the first quarter of his team’s 23-20 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.
Allen was injured with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter. He is slated to undergo an MRI exam on Monday.
Allen was injured as he was sacked by New York safety Jabrill Peppers. Running back Antonio Gibson tried to block Peppers, but Allen was accidentally leg-whipped by Peppers and fell to the ground while trying to elude the pocket.
Washington’s medical team attended to Allen for a few minutes before he was carted off to the locker room as Alex Smith warmed up on the sidelines.
Peppers was called for a roughing the passer penalty. He apologized afterward and said there was no intent to injure Allen.
“Everything happened so fast,” Peppers said. “I tried to just bull rush the running back, but he kind of got under me a little bit and I tried to like spin out of it. It was a weird kind of play. I didn’t intentionally try to leg whip him or whatever the penalty was. I was just trying to play hard and get him on the ground.”
Washington coach Ron Rivera, a former NFL linebacker, said he had no issue with Peppers.
“He got cut and as he was going down he saw Kyle trying to boot outside,” Rivera said. “Again, that’s just a guy trying to make a play. I don’t think it’s a dirty play. It’s a guy just trying to make a play.
“I get it. I’ve been there in that situation. Peppers is a heck of a football player. He plays 100 miles an hour.”
Allen’s injury made for an emotional moment for Smith, who returned to action from his own serious leg injury last month after being injured during a game in November 2018. He sustained a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula.
“A ton of emotions going on for me right then,” Smith said. “I knew Kyle was down and knew it was serious once he stayed down. You get ready to roll and all of a sudden you see them bringing out an air cast and the cart. I know that routine well. I’m trying to lock it in, but feeling for Kyle.”
Allen raised his arm to acknowledge the crowd as he was taken off the field. The 24-year-old completed 5 of 7 passes for 62 yards before exiting. Allen was making his fourth straight start since replacing Dwayne Haskins, who was inactive.
Smith, 36, completed 24 of 32 passes for 325 yards but was also intercepted three times.
With 10:24 left in the game, Smith connected with Terry McLaurin on a 68-yard score, marking Smith’s first touchdown pass thrown since Nov. 11, 2018.
Rivera announced after the game that Smith will start against the Detroit Lions next Sunday. It will be Smith’s first start since Nov. 18, 2018, the day he suffered the devastating injury against the Houston Texans.