Dak Prescott thanks Alex Smith for being a 'huge inspiration' originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
After completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history, Washington quarterback Alex Smith was named the NFL's 2020 Comeback Player of the Year on Saturday night.
Shortly after winning the award, Smith was shown a congratulatory video featuring many of Smith's current and former coaches, teammates and NFL peers.
One of the congratulations Smith received came from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who called the 36-year-old an "inspiration."
"I just wanted to thank you for being a huge inspiration to me. I've been following your career since Utah, playing under the same coaches in college," Prescott said.
While Smith's comeback story has inspired many, Prescott is using the Washington QB's recovery as motivation for his own rehab.
Prescott, who is set to become a free agent in March, is currently rehabbing from his own gruesome injury. In October, the Cowboys star suffered a compound fracture and dislocation in his right ankle.
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"You've always been an inspiration, you've always been somebody for me to look up to, and a role model just to follow at the quarterback position throughout the NFL and even more so now as I battle through my injury," Prescott said.
The injury forced Prescott to miss the remainder of the 2020 season. However, the quarterback is expected to make a full recovery and is currently ahead of schedule in his rehab, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Dallas has no medical concerns surrounding Prescott moving forward, and the Cowboys plan to franchise tag the quarterback for a second consecutive season if the two sides are unable to reach a long-term deal prior to the March 9 deadline.
As he works his way back to full health, Prescott has been inspired by Smith's ability to put his mind to something and accomplish it, no matter how many obstacles were in the way.
"Dealing and watching you over the past couple of years with your leg, how it's been an inspiration on the field and off the field, but just to show how to train your mind to do what you want to do and comeback from whatever it is you've dealt with," Prescott said.
If Prescott stays in Dallas and Smith returns to Washington, the two quarterbacks will have the chance to play one another next season in what will be a battle between the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year and the favorite to win the award in 2021.
