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The book on former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez’s NFL career may not be done just yet.
Sanchez, who led the Trojans to a Rose Bowl victory over Penn State in 2008, entered the game at quarterback for the Washington Redskins Monday night in a key NFC East divisional game against the Philadelphia Eagles when starter and former Texas gun slinger Colt McCoy went down with a broken leg injury early in the second quarter.
This season hasn’t been a kind one to a wounded Washington franchise, who lost veteran Alex Smith two weeks ago to a season-ending injury, which prompted the Redskins to sign Sanchez on Nov. 19.
The Mission Viejo product’s 2018 campaign got off to a good start thanks to running back Adrian Peterson’s 90-yard touchdown run on Sanchez’s first play under center, which drew some attention on Twitter.
Nobody hands off like Mark Sanchez.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2018
Wow this play doesn't happen without that epic handoff by Mark Sanchezpic.twitter.com/PdyoulqX7e
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) December 4, 2018
Two drives later, Sanchez led the Redskins on a positive two-minute drill drive that resulted in a field goal for Washington just before halftime.
However, that was the last scoring drive for the Skins. Sanchez finished the night completing 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 100 yards. A costly interception early in the fourth right after a Philadelphia touchdown led to an Eagles field goal that extended their lead to 25-13. After that, it was basically a lost cause for Sanchez & Co. as the Redskins’ offensive line struggled to keep Philadelphia’s defensive line out of the backfield.
This was Sanchez’s first appearance on an NFL gridiron since he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. Ironically, that last game was played in city of Brotherly Love, where Sanchez also played, making him only the second player in league history to play for three of the four NFC East teams.
Oddly enough, that other player was another legend of Troy, quarterback Rodney Peete, who also played for the same trio Sanchez has now suited up for.
With McCoy done for the season, it looks like the Redskins quarterback job is Sanchez’s to lose for the remaining four games of the season.