The Washington Football Team has found its stopgap solution at quarterback for the 2021 season. Washington agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Fitzpatrick could earn an additional $2 million in incentives.
Fitzpatrick is expected to enter training camp as the starting quarterback but he’ll compete with Taylor Heinicke.
The 38-year old Ryan Fitzpatrick played the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He started 20 games with the Dolphins. He compiled a 9-11 record in those starts.
In 2019, he threw for 3,529 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 15 games. Last season, he threw for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games. But, he was ushered out of the starting spot for rookie Tua Tagovailoa. Although, Fitzpatrick played in relief of the struggling Tagovailoa.
Washington won the NFC East division with a 7-9 record after starting three different quarterbacks in the regular season and a fourth in the playoffs. However, two of those quarterbacks, Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith are no longer with the team.
Now, Fitzpatrick moves on to Washington looking to hold off Heinicke and potentially Kyle Allen. Heinicke flashed in a wild card round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet, he has just two NFL starts after going undrafted in 2015 and bouncing around the league. Allen is looking to come back from a serious ankle injury that ended his season in 2020 after four starts.
Fitzpatrick has danced around the league as the ultimate stopgap solution. Washington is pivoting on their search for a viable QB, and settling for a journeyman to lead the quarterback room into the next season.
