LOCALS IN THE NFL
Report: Washington QB Alex Smith Wants To Return For 2021 NFL Season
Feb 16, 2021, 11:40 AM
Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team celebrates a first quarter touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at FedExField on November 22, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Utes and current Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith wants to play next season, according to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler.
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Fowler discussed Smith’s desire to return for another season during an interview on SportsCenter.
“I’m told that Alex Smith after a great comeback year, going 5-2 down the stretch, he does want to continue playing football,” Fowler said. “He’s leaning that way, but he’s got a large cap hit. Washington could save $13.6 million if they did move on. And many people around the league believe their answer at quarterback is not in the building. So maybe they could work something out with Smith, but he does want to play somewhere.”
After Washington was eliminated from the 2020 postseason, Smith said that he was undecided on his NFL future and would “take a few weeks” before deciding whether to keep playing.
Alex Smith isn’t ready to retire and “does wants to play somewhere” in 2021, per @JFowlerESPN pic.twitter.com/0XHVfyItoa
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 14, 2021
“It’s not the way you want to finish a season,” Smith said a day after his team exited the playoffs with a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “To even be in this situation is something that if presented to me a year ago, two years ago, I would have jumped at it.”
On February 6, Smith was honored as the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year following his return to the field in 2020. The former Utah star missed the entire 2019 season after suffering a life-threatening leg injury in the 2018 season.
.@washingtonNFL QB Alex Smith is the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year! (by @Visa) #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/FdGmzQzAHM
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2021
Alex Smith’s 2018 Injury
Smith suffered a broken fibula and tibia during a game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018.
Doctors determined immediate surgery was required.
Days after the initial surgery, Smith developed a fever and his leg became infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
Smith’s injury was so severe that it was considered a sports-related injury.
ICYMI – You can start #Project11 from the beginning now On Demand https://t.co/uTK1PM0AL6 pic.twitter.com/Gl5lFFlm8C
— E60 (@E60) May 2, 2020
In total, the QB experienced 17 surgeries.
The injury forced him to miss the rest of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 season.
Alex Smith is an inspiration. #Project11
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 2, 2020
Alex Smith’s 2020 Comeback
Prior to the start of the 2020 season, Smith was cleared by doctors and earned a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.
Midway through the season, he became Washington’s starting quarterback once again.
He helped led Washington to the NFL Playoffs and posted a 5-1 record in the games he started.
Alex Smith. 2020 Comeback Player of the Year. 🙏🙏 #NFLHonors @WashingtonNFL pic.twitter.com/cKZHm0CYxJ
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2021
The former Utah great was unable to play in Washington’s Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he suffered an injury late in the regular season.
While the team listed the ailment as a calf injury, 60 Minutes’ Norah O’Donnell reported that Smith’s injury was a bone bruise.
Smith finished the year throwing for 1,582 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Few moments from the 2020 season were as remarkable as Alex Smith's return
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 13, 2021
After the season, Smith said he would take “a few weeks” before deciding whether or not to retire or continue playing.
Alex Smith’s NFL Career
Smith has played in the NFL since 2005.
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He was drafted out of Utah by the San Francisco 49ers with the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
During his career, Smith has played for the 49ers, Chiefs, and Washington.
Through 174 career games, Smith has completed 62.6 percent of his throws for 35,650 yards, 199 touchdowns, and 109 interceptions.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
