Washington Football Team quarterback Kyle Allen was carted back to the locker room in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the New York Giants with a dislocated ankle.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera confirmed the diagnosis to reporters after Sunday's loss to the Giants. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network first reported the severity of the injury. Pelissero added Allen has a "small fracture," though Rivera wouldn't confirm that. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Allen "may not even need surgery" but will undergo an MRI before a full determination is made.

Giants safety Jabrill Peppers was rushing off the edge when a block from Antonio Gibson knocked him off-balance and into the lower left leg of Allen.

Peppers said after the game that he apologized to Allen:

Alex Smith took over for Allen at quarterback in his absence, and Rivera confirmed Smith would start in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, with Haskins as his backup.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan compared the play in which Allen was hurt to the one that knocked Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott out for the year. Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, so it appears the extent of Allen's injuries weren't as serious.

Smith overcame a compound fracture to his right leg to become Washington's backup quarterback, overtaking Dwayne Haskins Jr. in the depth chart. The three-time Pro Bowler appeared in Washington's 30-10 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, going 9-of-17 for 37 yards.

Rapoport reported Nov. 3 that Washington was willing to entertain offers for Haskins, but the trade deadline came and passed without him leaving.

Washington dropped to 2-6 after Sunday's 23-20 loss, so any playoff hopes are probably gone. The franchise has little else to play for, so maybe putting Haskins back in the starting role would make sense if for no other reason than rebuilding his value ahead of a possible offseason trade.