SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott thanked former Utah Utes quarterback Alex Smith for providing some inspiration in his personal comeback from surgery.
Prescott spoke about Smith during a press conference after he signed an extension with Dallas.
Like Smith did in 2018, Prescott suffered a season-ending leg injury during the 2020 NFL season.
“Even sitting there, holding my leg or whatever on the field, trying to put it back into place, or later on being in the hospital and waking up from surgery, that’s just what God’s thrown at me,” Prescott said. “If you’ve known my life, if you’ve known my story, whatever circumstance that is, I’m going to take it with a smile and be thankful that God has put me in this position to overcome it, to be an example to others. So never in a million years [did he think his career was finished].
“I have to thank, honestly, Alex Smith,” Prescott said. “Because at that moment, when you’re sitting there, and you have an injury like that or you come out of surgery, to see somebody who has already done it and did it actually in worse circumstances, that allowed my mind just to go to straight, ‘Hey, I can do this. I’m gonna beat this, it’s just a matter of time, when are the doctors are saying. But I’m gonna beat this. So I have to thank Alex, for somebody who’s overcome that and won Comeback Player of the Year, and congrats to him.”
Prescott is expected to be ready to play in 2021.
Alex Smith’s 2018 Injury
The former Washington Football Team quarterback suffered a broken fibula and tibia during a game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018.
Doctors determined immediate surgery was required.
Days after the initial surgery, Smith developed a fever and his leg became infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
Smith’s injury was so severe that it was considered a sports-related injury.
In total, the QB experienced 17 surgeries.
The injury forced him to miss the rest of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 season.
Alex Smith’s 2020 Comeback
Prior to the start of the 2020 season, Smith was cleared by doctors and earned a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.
Midway through the season, he became Washington’s starting quarterback once again.
He helped led Washington to the NFL Playoffs and posted a 5-1 record in the games he started.
The former Utah great was unable to play in Washington’s Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he suffered an injury late in the regular season.
Smith finished the year throwing for 1,582 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
After the season, Smith was released by Washington.
The former Utah quarterback reportedly wants to continue playing in 2021.
Alex Smith’s NFL Career
Smith has played in the NFL since 2005.
He was drafted out of Utah by the San Francisco 49ers with the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
During his career, Smith has played for the 49ers, Chiefs, and Washington.
Through 174 career games, Smith has completed 62.6 percent of his throws for 35,650 yards, 199 touchdowns, and 109 interceptions.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
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