Alex Smith’s return is inspiring, CBS NFL TODAY crew says

There was no guarantee Alex Smith would be here, starting for the Washington Football Team once after the severe leg injury he suffered two years ago.

But his return — and how he’s playing since taking over the starting quarterback job again — is inspiring. And that’s not lost on the members of CBS’s pregame show

“He represents, defines resilience,” former Steelers coach Bill Cowher said on the pregame show. “You think about he’s been overshadowed in the draft by Aaron Rodgers. He was picked first. And overshadowed by Colin Kaepernick. And overshadowed by Patrick Mahomes. This guy continues to come back to try to redefine himself. And I’d love to see him leave the game on his own. I feel like he’s been pushed out of everywhere he’s been. This guy represents the very best that the NFL has to offer. He deserves to go out on his own.”

Smith featured early in the year against the Rams on Oct. 11, completing just 9 of his 17 passes for 37 yards. But after the long road to recovery he had, the 36-year-old’s comeback was something to behold.

“This is so much more and so much more that we should be proud of because of not only the way that he is as a player…but just the human being that he is.” - @7BOOMERESIASON

The NFL TODAY guys discuss Alex Smith’s remarkable comeback after injury. pic.twitter.com/68r9SPY5LJ

— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) November 22, 2020

Then, once Kyle Allen got injured Nov. 8 against the Giants, Smith took over and nearly led a comeback. His three interceptions, though — including two in the last three minutes — quashed those hopes. But Smith broke career marks last week in a loss to the Lions, passing for 390 yards on 55 attempts.

Now Smith is starting a second straight week, this time against the Bengals on Sunday.

It could’ve been easy to discount Smith’s chances of playing football again. He’s back, though, and playing at an impressive level.

“You know, guys. It’s not about the money. He’s got $190 million in the bank after this season is over. He signed a four-year $95 million extension with $71 million guaranteed,” former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said. “It’s about getting back on the field. Being an inspiration for his own children and everybody else that is injured.

“… So, you know, this is so much more, and so much more that we should be proud of. Because not only the way that he is as a player, because last week he set all of his single game records, but, man, just the human being that he is.”