Alex Smith Moves Up Depth Chart As Washington Football Team Makes Change At QB
Oct 7, 2020, 10:09 AM
Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team warms up before the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Alex Smith has moved into the two-deep on the Washington Football Team’s depth chart after head coach Ron Rivera announced that Kyle Allen will replace Dwayne Haskins as the teams starting quarterback.
Smith, 36, began the season third on the depth chart behind Haskins and Allen. However, following the benching of Haskins, Smith will now play the role of backup.
If Smith can continue to climb the depth chart and eventually find himself as the starting quarterback for Washington again, it would mark one of the greatest comeback stories the world has ever seen.
More news: Alex Smith is now the Backup, per me and @MikeGarafolo. https://t.co/f1zwK3Olhr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2020
The Injury
On November 18th against the Houston Texans, Smith suffered a spiral and compound fracture to his tibia and fibula in his right leg when he sacked by Kareem Jackson and J.J. Watt. Following the initial surgery, Smith developed life-threatening complications due to an infection. The complications resulted in 17 more surgeries and a 9-month hospital stay. Doctors at one-point believed the only way to save Alex Smith’s life would be to amputate his right leg above the knee.
However, as a last gasp effort, Smith underwent a surgery in which surgeons performed skin grafts and took muscle from his left quadricep to save his right leg. The surgery was a success.
He was later cleared by his doctors to resume football activities in July of 2020 before being activated to the 53 man roster in August of 2020.
