Alex Smith looks like he wants to play in 2021

Saturday’s NFL Honors Show will reveal the 2020 winners. Favorites for some of the awards are Aaron Rodgers as MVP, Derrick Henry as Offensive Player of the Year, Chase Young as Defensive Rookie of the Year, Justin Herbert as an offensive rookie. of the year and Kevin Stefanski as coach of the year.

It would be surprising if any of these choices were unanimous, and if other contenders for these awards certainly deserve it.

The only shoo-in is Alex Smith, who is arguably the unanimous returning player of the year winner. How can anyone argue? In fact, they should name the award after it.

Smith underwent 17 surgeries to save his life and his right leg and missed a year of rehab in football before an inspiring comeback in 2020.

The question Smith left for everyone at the end of the season is, what’s next?

Smith, 36, is signed until 2022 with $ 40 million owed to him over the next two seasons and a salary cap of $ 24.4 million for 2021. He has not committed to a return next season.

He joined the Rachael Ray Show this week, however, and gave the impression that he was leaning towards a comeback.

“For me this year has been such a mad rush to be out there, to train every day, so I can put on my crampons and helmet,” Smith said on the show, via Ethan Gifts from NBC Sports Washington. “But for me the craziest thing was the way my body reacted to it. I just feel like I just kept getting stronger and better and better. I still feel like I’m kind of a kid right now on my way to the offseason. . . . I had a great time playing. I felt so good there. It was crazy after that first game how comfortable I felt on the pitch.

Smith plans to ski and snowboard this offseason, he said.

“I’m excited for this offseason to see what I can do – football and everything,” Smith said. “I intend to do as much as possible.”