Alex Smith out: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to face Taylor Heinicke in playoff game at Washington

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't have Washington's top quarterback to deal with in tonight's wild card playoff game.

The Football Team announced before the game Alex Smith was inactive for the game scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. That means Taylor Heinicke will start under center for the 7-9 NFC East champs.

Smith had been battling a calf injury for weeks. He missed two games late in the season before returning for last week's win against the Philadelphia Eagles that clinched Washington's playoff spot.

Smith is the clear favorite for NFL Comeback Player of the Year after coming back from a broken leg suffered during a game in 2018. He went 5-1 as Washington's starting quarterback this season after nearly dying from complications surrounding the injury and surgery.

Heinicke was 12 of 19 for 137 yards and a touchdown in his lone appearance this season, a 20-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16. He made one start in seven prior games between 2017 and 2018 with the Panthers and the Houston Texans.

How to watch:Here's how to follow Tampa Bay vs. Washington in the playoffs on TV, radio and live stream

Opinion:Behind Alex Smith and Ron Rivera, Washington achieves the incomprehensible