Former Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith has retired from the NFL. Smith, the former No. 1 overall pick for the 49ers, spent 16 seasons in the NFL. The most notable part of his WFT tenure was a devastating leg injury in 2018 that put Smith's NFL future -- and his life, at one point -- in doubt. Smith's miraculous comeback last season saw him start six games for Washington, going 5-1 as a starter. He threw for 1,582 yards and six touchdowns while completing 66.7 percent of his passes, but Smith also threw eight interceptions. His retirement shouldn't come as a huge surprise, especially with his starting role in Washington gone after the team signed Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Washington Football Team is expected to part ways with quarterback Alex Smith in the coming days, according to informed sources. Smith had a gruesome leg injury in 2018 and needed 17 surgeries to fix and later save his leg from amputation. He missed all of the 2019 season before becoming the league's 2020 Comeback Player of the Year, going 5-1 as a starter and helping the team win the NFC East division. However, the new regime never believed that Smith could make a comeback and were set to go in a different direction under center. The 36-year-old played decent football in his return, but it remains to be seen if another organization will give Smith a chance to compete for a starting job. A reunion with Matt Nagy in Chicago, Smith's former offensive coordinator in Kansas City, could be coming.
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith, who won Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 after returning from a gruesome leg injury two years prior, said that very few people in the organization "actually thought I could do this." "When I decided to come back, I definitely threw a wrench in the team's plan. They didn't see it, didn't want me there, didn't want me to be a part of it, didn't want me to be on the team, the roster, didn't want to give me a chance," Smith said. Although the veteran didn't light up the box scores, he went 5-1 in his six starts and helped Washington win the AFC East. It remains to be seen if Washington wants the 36-year-old back in 2021, but if Smith does return, he'll likely have to prove himself again in a competition with Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke. From a fantasy perspective, managers should look elsewhere when searching for their QB.
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith, last year's Comeback Player of the Year, appeared in eight games (six starts) and completed 66.7 percent of his passes while going 5-1 after nearly losing his leg due to injury in 2018. Smith strained the calf in the same leg late in the season, but it was unrelated to his previous injury, and he sounds invigorated heading into the offseason. The veteran signal-caller has yet to make a decision on his future in the NFL, but he sounds enthusiastic. "I still feel like I've got a lot of room for growth on the field, based off what happened this last year," Smith said. But even if the 36-year-old returns in 2021, he won't be guaranteed a starting job, and there will be competition among Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke. Smith's comeback story was a great one in 2020, but he won't be much of a fantasy option if he returns and wins the starting gig in Washington.
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith said he hasn't reached a decision on his playing future and will take a few weeks to clear his head and talk his future over with his wife. The veteran quarterback didn't play in the wild-card loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday night due to a right calf strain that he suffered on Dec. 13, an injury that isn't related to his 2018 broken fibula and tibia. Smith will easily win the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award after starting six games for Washington. Head coach Ron Rivera admired Smith for trying to play through his calf injury late in the year, but the team will take time to evaluate the position heading into the offseason. Smith had a total QBR of just 34.7 in his six games played in 2020, throwing six touchdowns and eight interceptions. While he wasn't all that fantasy relevant, Smith's comeback story was one of the best in the league. It remains to be seen if he'll be back in Washington in the QB picture. The team can save $13.8 million on the salary cap if he keeps playing but they cut him. Smith has two more years on his contract and would count $24.4 million on the cap if he stays with Washington.
Alex Smith Inactive, Taylor Heinicke To Start Against Bucs
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (calf) is inactive for Saturday's wild-card contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. BackupTaylor Heinicke will start at quarterback. Smith gave Washington the best chance of upsetting the Buccaneers, but Heinicke was solid as a relief QB in Week 16 in the loss to the Panthers, going 12-for-19 for 137 yards and a touchdown, adding 22 rushing yards. While this is probably going to go poorly for Washington, there's some deep-sleeper appeal for Heinicke in DFS contests due to his low salary. But he's also attempted just 77 career passes in three NFL seasons with Washington, Houston and Carolina.
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (calf) is still sore after practicing on a limited basis this week, but he is expected to start on Saturday night against the Buccaneers in the wild-card game despite being listed as questionable. Washington has prepared backup Taylor Heinicke more this week by giving him first-team repetitions in practice just in case Smith's right calf doesn't respond well in the game and he has to be pulled from the contest. The 36-year-old veteran will do everything in his power to battle though the injury, because he gives this team the best chance to win after going 5-1 as the starter this season. Tampa's defense is easier to attack through the air, but Washington's QB situation is one to avoid for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
Alex Smith Officially Questionable For Wild-Card Weekend
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (calf) is officially listed as questionable for the wild-card playoff game against the Buccaneers on Saturday night. Smith stretched with teammates on Thursday but didn't appear to do much else, and head coach Ron Rivera said that Smith is "a little bit sore." Taylor Heinicke took the majority of the first-team repetitions in practice. The 36-year-old veteran quarterback has a chance to play, but the fact that he's still sore isn't a ringing endorsement for fantasy managers to consider him in playoff formats. Smith is 5-1 as the team's starter and has been by far their best option under center in 2020, but he doesn't move the needle all that much in fantasy, especially if he plays with limited mobility once again. You can do better than Smith/Heinicke in fantasy.
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (calf) was working off to the side without a helmet at practice on Thursday, with Taylor Heinicke taking first-team repetitions during the period of practice open to the media. Head coach Ron Rivera said that Smith was throwing the ball well during a limited practice on Wednesday. Barring a setback with his injured right leg, Smith should be able to play on Saturday night against the Buccaneers in the wild-card game. The veteran signal-caller is 5-1 in his six starts this year and has been effective leading this offense, but he hasn't been much of a fantasy asset and his mobility was considerably limited in the Week 17 win over the Eagles. Tampa's defense is more vulnerable through the air, but fantasy managers have better options than Smith/Heinicke this weekend.
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (calf) was limited in practice on Wednesday, with head coach Ron Rivera saying, "it looked like he threw the ball well." The 36-year-old QB missed Weeks 15 and 16 with a calf strain but returned in the Week 17 win over the Eagles, but his movement was limited in an up-and-down performance. "Tomorrow is going to be a telling day," Smith said. Barring a setback, Smith should be able to suit up for the wild-card playoff game against the Buccaneers, but he's unlikely to be fully healthy and could rotate with backup Taylor Heinicke in the contest. It's not exactly a ringing endorsement for Smith as a fantasy asset, as he wasn't really anything more than a low-end QB2 before he suffered his calf injury.
