Utah Great Alex Smith Makes Washington Football Team’s 53-Man Active Roster
Sep 5, 2020, 7:08 PM | Updated: 7:18 pm
Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team throws the ball in the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at FedExField on October 14, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah and current NFL quarterback Alex Smith made the 53-man active roster for the Washington Football Team.
Washington confirmed Smith’s spot on the roster following cuts on Saturday, September 5. Saturday was the league’s deadline for team’s to trim their active rosters from 80 players to 53.
“Back on the 53,” the team shared on their official Twitter account alongside a photo of Smith.
Back on the 53 🙌 pic.twitter.com/6dMNco92qH
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 5, 2020
In mid-August, Smith took the practice field for the first time since suffering a significant leg injury during the 2018 NFL season.
Washington officially activated Smith off the team’s physically unable to perform list on Sunday, August 16.
Smith is one of three quarterbacks on Washington’s roster. Dwayne Haskins Jr. and Kyle Allen are the team’s other quarterbacks.
The 2020 roster is set 🔥
Football: 🔜 pic.twitter.com/sfB466Yvlt
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 5, 2020
On September 2, Washington head coach Ron Rivera named Haskins the team’s starting quarterback to open the 2020 season.
Official: QB1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4zz7yZZio7
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 2, 2020
Washington opens their season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, September 13 at 11 a.m. (MDT).
Alex Smith’s 2018 Injury
The former Utah quarterback suffered a broken fibula and tibia during Washington’s game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018.
Doctors attended to Smith and determined the injury was significant and immediate surgery was required.
Days after his initial surgery, Smith developed a fever and his leg became infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
Alex Smith in the last 21 months:
➡ Suffered gruesome leg injury
➡ Underwent 17 surgeries in nine months
➡ Endured life-threatening complicationsNow he’s back practicing on a football field. (via @washingtonNFL) pic.twitter.com/T3edkQSKq4
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2020
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Following the development of the infection, doctors consulted with Smith’s wife to determine the next steps in helping the QB.
Ultimately, amputation wasn’t chosen and the fight to save Smith’s leg continued. The quarterback underwent multiple surgeries remove the dead tissue from his leg.
In total, Smith experienced 17 surgeries.
Alex Smith’s NFL Career
Smith has played in the NFL since 2005.
The former Mountain West Conference Player of the Year was drafted out of Utah by the San Francisco 49ers with the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
He’s been a member of the Niners, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington.
Alex Smith: Cleared to resume football activities for the first time since 2018. 🎯 @washingtonNFL pic.twitter.com/vBW2suuypW
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2020
In 2018, his first season with Washington, Smith passed for 2,180 yards with a 62.5 completion percentage. He threw 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 10 games before going out with the injury.
Through 166 career games, Smith has completed 62.4 percent of his throws for 34,068 yards, 193 touchdowns, and 101 interceptions.
