Washington Football Team quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, also known as FitzMagic, has been a non-factor in 2021.
He went on injured reserve with a hip injury that he suffered in the opening game of the season.
Most games with 400 Pass Yards and 3 Pass TD since 2018:
Dak Prescott 7
Patrick Mahomes 6
Ryan Fitzpatrick 4 pic.twitter.com/6PSwO3eYys— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 18, 2021
Fitzpatrick signed a one-year contract with WFT so he will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Could this be the end of his career?
Will another team sign him for 2022?
The answer is no, and here are the reasons why.
2. Age
Fitzpatrick will be 39 years old on November 24.
His NFL career has spanned many years and practically as many teams.
Fitzpatrick was the No. 250 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Harvard.
I was privileged to recruit and coach Ryan Fitzpatrick at Harvard. I'm proud of what he's accomplished in his distinguised NFL career, but it has brought me even more joyto see the first-class wayhe has conducted himself on and off the field. Well done! pic.twitter.com/zd6IKGNXTf
— Coach Jay Mills (@CoachJMills) November 18, 2021
Washington is his ninth team.
If his season is over, have to feel for Ryan Fitzpatrick. WFT provided the veteran a rarity in his lengthy career: The starting job with no young QB waiting in the wings to take over. Then doesn't even get though one half of football.
Meanwhile Washington’s QB woes never end…
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 14, 2021
The others are the St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins.
Unfortunately, for Fitzpatrick, the market for aging NFL quarterbacks is dwindling.
Aside from Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Aaron Rodgers, the starting quarterbacks are young, in their 20s and early 30s.
Backup quarterbacks tend to be younger also as they are later-round draft picks whose NFL career paths are most likely in backup roles.
1. Injury
In addition to his age, Fitzpatrick’s hip injury was serious but not supposed to be a season-ender.
The initial prognosis estimated a six to eight-week recovery time.
At the six-week point (in late October), it was reported that Fitzpatrick was still weeks away from returning.
In Week 11, there are serious questions as to whether Fitzpatrick will even make it back on the field this season at all.
The issue is that he has pain and swelling from the injury that has delayed the rehabilitation process.
WFT coach Ron Rivera has not come out and said Fitzpatrick is out for the year, but he was not very optimistic about his return after an early November MRI.
“They looked at it, and there is some progress. Unfortunately, it’s not way up, but it’s progress.”
“He’ll continue to work his rehab stuff and he’ll be re-evaluated soon. I’m not sure when, But the nice thing is there is progress and [he’s] shown some positive signs, but I’ve been given no timetable.”
Conclusion
Combining his age and injury status, Fitzpatrick is unfortunately probably finished as an NFL quarterback.
There is still a small probability that he could be signed as a backup quarterback in 2022 especially if a team’s starting quarterback suffers an injury.
However, the best of the FitzMagic years are behind us.
During his career, he provided many show-stopping plays.
One thing I am certain of is that this NFL season has been a lot less fun without Ryan Fitzpatrick
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) November 11, 2021
One of the last in his career was in 2020 with the Dolphins when he completed an improbable pass that ultimately lifted the Dolphins to victory over the Las Vegas Raiders and eliminated the Raiders from playoff contention.
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s last pass as a Miami Dolphins quarterback! #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/3sS8iJyHUl
— Big E (@ian693) March 16, 2021
If it is the end, what a successful ride it has been.
Fitzpatrick has 223 touchdown passes and 34,990 yards.
He also has over 2,600 yards rushing and 21 rushing touchdowns.
NEXT: Ron Rivera Reveals Whether He Is Thinking About A QB Change
Matt Patricia says
THe guy needs 10 passing yards to be the second QB with over 35,000 passing yards and no playoff wins. If the Rams sign him next year, they could have both on their roster at the same time