Washington Football Team: 3 players already proving they won’t be back in 2022

2. Ryan Fitzpatrick

While Ryan Fitzpatrick was signed as a stopgap option, the consensus was what the franchise would welcome him back with open arms if he exceeded expectations and proved to be a seamless fit in Scott Turner’s offense.

With Fitzpatrick injured, though, we have no idea if that’s the case. If Taylor Heinicke continues to put Washington in position to win games, Fitzpatrick might not reclaim his starting job when he’s activated off injured reserve.

Not exactly Washington’s plan when they signed Fitz to a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason.

There were questions about the move when it happened and those concerns were justified when he went down with a hip subluxation in the first half of Week 1 vs the Chargers.

That’s the risk you run when you sign a 38-year-old quarterback who’s started all 16 games just three times in his 17-year career. We know Fitzpatrick wasn’t his team’s de facto starter in all of those years, but his injury history is extensive.

By not being on the field, the beloved veteran is unfortunately proving that he won’t be back in Ashburn next year. That could change if Heinicke falls on his face and Fitz balls out in the second half of the campaign upon returning, but the chances of that happening at this juncture are slim to none.

It might seem cruel given it wasn’t Fitzpatrick’s fault he got hurt, but the NFL is a harsh business with no patience for aging QBs.