Snap counts: Tight end Alex Smith able to contribute on short notice

One of the main reasons the Redskins signed veteran tight end Alex Smith after Derek Carrier sustained a season-ending knee injury was because of his familiarity with coach Jay Gruden’s offense.

Smith had previously played for four teams, including 16 ames with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013 when Gruden was the offensive coordinator. Gruden was also an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Smith played there from 2005-08.

That’s why despite being signed just five days before the Redskins’ 35-25 win against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, he was able to quickly transition into the offense and play 16 snaps on offense.

Not only was it impressive that he was able to play, but that the Redskins utilized him as early as they did. Clearly, the coaching staff trusted Smith to execute and felt comfortable putting him on the field. On the Redskins’ opening scoring drive, Smith played five snaps, four of which came as the third tight end in jumbo packages.

The Redskins used the combination of tight end Jordan Reed, offensive tackle Tom Compton and Smith on the final three plays of the drive. The results? A nine-yard gain by running back Alfred Morris, a 16-yard reception by Jordan Reed and then Reed’s three-yard touchdown reception.

Smith looked a little bit rusty with his technique, which was expected from a guy who only played two games last season because of a biceps injury, but his effort was at a high level. On Reed’s 16-yard catch he was downfield looking to block a defender. After Reed’s touchdown, he was the first to congratulate Reed and noticeably fired up.

The fact that Smith was able to get himself ready for the game was valuable, especially when right tackle Morgan Moses sustained a left ankle injury. If Smith had not been available, the Redskins would have lost offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe as their third tight end. Instead, the Redskins were able to use Nsekhe at right tackle when Moses was injured and keep using Smith and Compton in multiple-tight end sets.

Here are a few other observations from Sunday’s snap counts:

** Free safety Dashon Goldson played 66 of 67 defensive snaps, despite what appeared to be a painful rib contusion. After the game, Goldson was in too much pain to even talk. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on this injury throughout the week. Goldson has been extremely dependable this season as a leader in the secondary. Entering Sunday, he had played 97 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. While there’s been nonstop personnel changes in the secondary because of injuries, Goldson has been a constant, especially in helping veteran cornerback DeAngelo Hall transition to safety.

** Earlier last week, it seemed as if veteran running back Pierre Thomas would see an increased role on Sunday. Thomas played four snaps in his first game with the Redskins last week against the Chicago Bears, but only played one offensive snap against the Bills. With Chris Thompson out again because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder, it was slightly surprising Thomas’ playing time didn’t increase. Instead, the Redskins stuck with Morris and Matt Jones. Morris played 30 of 57 offensive snaps. Jones played 26.

** Inside linebacker Keenan Robinson played eight snaps on defense — his first since returning from a shoulder injury three games ago. Robinson did not play in his first game back at all and last week played only special teams. He was also pressed into action against the Bills when inside linebacker Will Compton sustained a shoulder stinger, but the fact that he was able to play at all is an improvement. With Compton banged up, it will be helpful if Robinson can contribute, especially while inside linebacker Perry Riley remains out with a foot injury.

Here are the full snap counts with the total number played in parentheses:

Offense: LT Trent Williams (57/57), LG Spencer Long (57/57), RG Brandon Scherff (57/57), QB Kirk Cousins (57/57), RT Morgan Moses (61/70), C Josh LeRibeus (53/57), TE Jordan Reed (50/57), WR Pierre Garcon (40/57), WR Jamison Crowder (40/57), WR DeSean Jackson (36/57), RB Alfred Morris (30/57), RT Morgan Moses (29/57), OL Ty Nsekhe (28/57), OL Tom Compton (27/57), RB Matt Jones (26/57), TE Alex Smith (16/57), FB Darrel Young (8/57), WR Ryan Grant (8/57), C Brian de la Puente (4/57), WR Rashad Ross (2/57), RB Pierre Thomas (1/57).

Defense: CB Bashaud Breeland (67/67), FS Dashon Goldson (66/67), CB Will Blackmon (64/67), OLB Ryan Kerrigan (60/67), ILB Will Compton (59/67), CB Quinton Dunbar (51/67), ILB Mason Foster (46/67), DE Chris Baker (46/67), DB DeAngelo Hall (45/67), DB Kyshoen Jarrett (39/67), OLB Trent Murphy (37/67), OLB Preston Smith (35/67), DE Ricky Jean Francois (28/67), NT Terrance Knighton (27/67), DE Jason Hatcher (21/67), DE Frank Kearse (20/67), DE Kedric Golston (13/67), ILB Keenan Robinson (8/67), OLB Houston Bates (5/67).

Special teams: Bates (19/27), Young (18/27), Murphy (17/27), Carlos Fields (17/27), Deshazor Everett (17/27), Jarrett (14/27), Grant (14/27), Dashaun Phillips (13/27), Golston (13/27), Blackmon (11/27), Dustin Hopkins (11/27), Nsekhe (9/27), T. Compton (9/27), Nick Sundberg (8/27), Tress Way (8/27), Knighton (8/27), Goldson (8/27), Breeland (8/27), A. Smith (7/27), Robinson (7/27), W. Compton (6/27), Long (5/27), Scherff (5/27), Ross (5/27), Jean Francois (5/27), Dunbar (4/27), Thomas (4/27), Morris (4/27), Crowder (4/27), Moses (3/27), Kerrigan (3/27), Foster (3/27), Hall (3/27), Kearse (2/27), P. Smith (2/27), Reed (1/27), Garcon (1/27).