Though it is not official yet, there is plenty of reporting to indicate that the Washington Football Team will release veteran quarterback Alex Smith.
The Washington Football Team is expected to part ways with QB Alex Smith in the coming days, sources tell me and @KimJonesSports. The AP Comeback Player of the Year has said he still wants to play, and at age 36 may have a chance to do so.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2021
Smith, 36, is the 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year but may soon be out of a job and in need of a new team.
Smith’s Injury
The fact that he played football again in 2020 after his devastating leg injury in 2018 is miraculous.
Smith battled a leg injury and infection to the point where amputation or death was possible.
To say his comeback in 2020 was the feel good story of the year is an understatement.
Alex Smith’s injury was beyond traumatic.
His wife shared some of what the doctors told her.
“The way that the doctors explained it to us, he no longer has a sports injury. He has what would be more comparable to a military injury. He has a blast injury.”
This is why part of his recuperation was done at a military health center where amputees were patients.
All of this made his return to the competitive play even sweeter in 2020.
Alex Smith’s family giving him a standing ovation when he returned to the field for the first time in nearly 2 years is still my favorite moment of the 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/36RtTl0nHT
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 1, 2021
Smith played well and is still young and hungry enough to want to play more especially after enduring 17 surgeries and extensive rehab.
He started six games, won five of them, and completed 2/3 of the throws he made in 2020.
2021 Offseason
All good things must come to an end.
WFT Coach Ron Rivera inherited both Dwayne Haskins (already released) and Alex Smith.
With the quarterback carousel occurring in this offseason, it is not surprising that Rivera and WFT may want to go in another direction.
What Are Alex Smith’s Options?
Indications are that Alex Smith still wants to play.
If he is in fact released by WFT, what are his options?
From NFL Now: The Washington Football Team is expected to release QB Alex Smith and he still wants to play. If that holds, the #Bears would be one of the teams that makes sense… pic.twitter.com/JVcGyZX9SB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2021
Several Teams Could Be Interested
The quarterback carousel could benefit Smith because other teams are looking to make changes.
1. Chicago Bears
A prime contender for Alex Smith would be the Chicago Bears.
They definitely have a quarterback situation with Trubisky and Foles both showing moments of grandeur and ineffectiveness in 2020.
Making it extra likely is the fact that Alex Smith worked with Matt Nagy when both were in Kansas City.
2. New England Patriots
Everyone knows that the Patriots have a quarterback problem.
Cam Newton did not exactly work out in Bill Belichick’s system in 2020.
The Patriots could sign Smith and potentially try to draft a young quarterback for Smith to mentor.
In addition to all of his other accolades, Alex Smith has mentored young quarterbacks extremely well.
No one else would have handled the surging popularity of Colin Kaepernick (in San Francisco) and Patrick Mahomes (in Kansas City) with the class that Smith did.
3. San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith could make a return visit to San Francisco depending on what the 49ers decide to do about Jimmy Garoppolo.
He could definitely serve in a backup capacity but should be ready to play since Jimmy G is injury-prone.
It appears there will be a market for Alex Smith should the WFT release him as many believe is imminent.
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