Dak Prescott's return to football after last year's injury is one of the much-anticipated stories of the 2021 season. At least one former NFL quarterback, recently-retired Alex Smith, is on record that he expects Prescott to have a “huge, huge year” for the Dallas Cowboys.
Projecting big things for Dak in 2021 isn't exactly a high-risk proposition. Dallas' franchise QB was on pace to throw for over 6,000 yards in the first il five weeks of 2020, easily smashing Peyton Manning's current record of 5,477 yards in 2013.
That torrid pace was especially noteworthy as Prescott never had his full offensive line at any time; La'el Collins missed the entire season and Tyron Smith was lost in the middle of Week 2. Starting TE Blake Jarwin was gone midway through the season opener, though Dalton Schultz stepped in nicely.
All of those players should be back in 2021. The receivers should be even more dangerous as CeeDee Lamb develops and Michael Gallup fights for his next contract. Center Tyler Biadasz should also be better after a full offseason with the 1st-team offense.
So yeah, it's pretty reasonable to think Dak Prescott will be just as productive this year if not better than 2020. And with Dallas' defense still a work in progress, he may need to be for the Cowboys to win games.
That's a big reason why Alex Smith is like many who expect a monster season from Dak. The reigning Comeback Player of the Year after his final season in Washington, Smith was asked about Prescott in the context of winning that award in 2021.
Alex Smith on comeback player of the year favorite Dak Prescott 🗣
Do you agree with his prediction? pic.twitter.com/LzwVgTMS4h
— PFF (@PFF) July 12, 2021
While he's far from the only one to expect this, Alex's perspective on Dak is unique in that he recently overcame a very similar major injury as the one Prescott suffered in 2020.
After a compound fracture to his lower leg in November 2018 and a life-threatening infection shortly after, Smith missed the entire 2019 season rehabbing. He returned as a backup in Washington last year to Dwayne Haskins but eventually took the job back, going 5-1 as a starter and leading the Football Team to the playoffs.
While he never lived up to being the first-overall pick in the 2005 Draft, and especially because Aaron Rodgers was drafted 24th that same year, Alex Smith has helped teams reach the playoffs six times and is a three-time Pro Bowler. His career record of 99-67-1 as a starting QB is a good line on any resume.
Given his personal experience in this league, both in leading teams and in coming back from a similar major injury, Smith's take on Dak Prescott's 2021 potential is definitely worth listening to.
Of course, as we saw last year with Dallas' 1-4 record after four week, gaudy passing numbers don't guarantee wins. The Cowboys will need their defense, run game, offensive turnovers, and other facets of the game all improved to succeed in the way that matters most.
Dak Prescott was doing his part in 2020 and hopefully that continues this season. If Alex Smith and may others are correct, it could even be a year for the record books.
