Washington QB Alex Smith Completes Comeback, Plays In First NFL Game Since 2018 Injury
Oct 11, 2020, 1:54 PM | Updated: 2:07 pm
Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team throws a pass in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at FedExField on October 11, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Utes and current Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith completed his comeback from a significant 2018 leg injury as he took the field during a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
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Washington hosted Los Angeles at FedEx Field on Sunday, October 11.
During the second quarter of action, Washington’s starting quarterback against the Rams, Kyle Allen, suffered an injury and was replaced by Smith.
As the former Utah quarterback walked from the sideline toward the huddle, Smith’s family gave the quarterback a standing ovation from the stands.
Standing O from the Smith Fam 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/h6TTMSQRWu
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 11, 2020
Smith took control of Washington’s offense with 1:53 remaining until halftime and played his first snap since suffering a brutal leg injury, including a broken fibula and tibia, during Washington’s game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018.
QB Alex Smith is now in the game.
He's back!
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 11, 2020
Allen received clearance to return to the game but Washington head coach Ron Rivera kept Smith in at quarterback.
Alex Smith completes his first pass with his family in attendance. #WashingtonFootball
📺: #LARvsWAS on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/BGCKhfX8uY pic.twitter.com/CevNBQXQTS— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2020
Smith finished the game throwing 9/17 for 37 yards. He also had one carry for one yard.
Washington fell 30-10 to the Rams and moved to 1-4 on the season.
Alex Smith’s 2018 Injury
After Smith went down with the injury vs. Houston, doctors attended to him 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
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.
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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.
What a journey it's been 🙌
📺: #LARvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/tB1yfEJvti
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 11, 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.
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).
