Alex Smith‘s long road back to a potential NFL comeback might not end up coming to fruition, but the Redskins quarterback considers himself “very much lucky to be alive” after the infection and numerous surgeries that became required on his broken leg.
Information about Smith’s surgery history has continued to trickle out over the past year and change, but the veteran passer revealed during an appearance on ESPN’s Outside the Lines (via ESPN.com’s Stephania Bell) he developed sepsis. The potentially life-threatening condition stemmed from the infection Smith encountered, and the possibility of leg amputation was very real following the November 2018 injury.
“[The] next thing I remember is waking up several weeks later faced with the decision of amputation or limb salvage at that point,” Smith said during the interview of a choice presented to him weeks after the injury.
The former 49ers and Chiefs quarterback opted for numerous surgeries to save his injured leg. Smith suffered a compound right tibia fracture and a right fibula fracture. The most recent information indicated Smith underwent 17 operations on the leg since suffering the injuries during a Redskins-Texans game in November 2018.
Smith since overcame the infection and has made strides over the past 14 months. He remains interested in returning to action, and Ron Rivera brought up the injured passer’s name unprompted during a recent interview.
“I also donāt want to forget Alex Smith,” Rivera said during an appearance on The Team 980’s Doc & Galdi show. “Hereās a guy thatās doing everything he can to come back, and if Alex can come back and be the player that he was, we have a good situation; we [would] have competition at that position.”
Smith, who will turn 36 in May, is on Washington’s payroll at $21.4MM in 2020. His $16MM 2020 base salary is fully guaranteed. Dwayne Haskins remains expected to be the Redskins’ Week 1 quarterback.
Wow crazy…you never realize how devastating any injury can become
I know, the updates that would come out after were always more and more negative too. Iām happy heās ok
wasn’t it something crazy like Joe Namath’s same injury on same day or against same team?!
The night before the injury, smith banged the daughter of the woman Namath banged the night before his injury
It was Joe Theisman….same day. Namath never played for Redskins
He never said Namath played for the Redskins. Reading comprehension, its a thing you need to work on.
Begamin, he was stating that it was Theisman that suffered the injury, simply just correcting him. Pull the stick out, and try not to be an a** hat next time š
Yeah, that was the first part of his reply. I understood that. However, Hawktattoo clearly misunderstood what braveshomer was saying when he said āor against same teamā, which is why Hawktattoo said āNamath never played for the Redskinsā. Braveshomer never implied that Namath mightve played for the Redskins, he implied that Namath mightve played against the same team the Redskins played against when Alex Smith broke his leg. If Hawktattoo correctly comprehended what he read, he wouldnt have felt the need to say that Namath was never a Redskin.
Context clues, its something you need to work on understanding better.
Again, youāre not comprehending that he mixed up Theisman with Namath. Thatās what this whole thing was about. He was stating that it was Theisman, and that Namath did not play for the Skins. Not being an a** hat, something you should work on.
Yes, the first part of Hawktattoos comment is fine. I get that braveshomer mixed up Theisman with Namath. However, braveshomer never insinuated that Namath was ever a Redskin, so there was no reason for Hawktattoo to state that Namath didnt play for the Redskins. How you keep missing that point is beyond me.
I might be a**hat, according to you, but at least I can read and correctly understand what people write out. Something you clearly need to work on.
Braveshomer does imply he played for the Redskins when he mixes him up for Theisman.
Maybe stay in your lane. Braveshomer doesnāt seemed upset by correction.
He clearly doesnāt know how to stay in his lane. He seems to love telling everyone what they need to work on. Must be a psychologist I guess
+deal1122
Im no psychologist, but I dont need to be one to tell you that you consistently misread comments on here.
No he does not, he implies that Namath possibly faced the same team that Alex Smith faced when he broke his leg. How do you people get that he played for the Redskins out of āor AGAINST same team?ā?
Iām thinking you have lots of things to work on. Never meant anything to braveshomer other than stating was Theisman, and the team fact. Which is a crazy fact that it happened. I applaud him for bringing up the interesting fact. Heās adding something interesting to a conversation unlike others on here.
Well, youre thinking wrong.
All I was saying is that there was no need to correct anyone on Namath not playing for the Redskins, since nobody implied that he did. I didnt think your comment meant anything other than a correction, so Iād like to clarify that im not criticizing your intentions.
Whole world life changes in a second. Makes you realize how fragile it is…even for non sports. Car accident, work injury, illness.
Alex Smith had a very solid career and it ended devastatingly with something out of his control. Nothing to be ashamed of, but if it were me, Iād stay home with the family and look towards the second act. No need to risk being permanently debilitated and just appreciate being able to walk around with the grandkids one day.
Agreed. Love you Alex Smith but very careful.
Personally, I think heās milking all the money from his contract before retirement.
Over 1/2 the contract was guaranteed for injury, heāll collect around $55 million regardless. Do why would he need to āmilkā the contract.
Totally agree….has to look to the future and life after the game.
Man that 2005 draft was anemic
hell of a story if this guy makes it back. never thought he was all that great but im rooting for him.
I had no idea! Iām so grateful to hear that Alex has been able to make so much progress after so many surgeries. I can only imagine the depths of fear/depression and other strong feelings he may have experienced.
Best of luck to you sir!
I used to run into him semi frequently at a little greasy spoon breakfast joint called Lou’s in Los Gatos when he played for the Niners. Really nice guy. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and can spend the rest of his life on the golf course pain free.
Is that right off the 17 ? Im a few miles away but cant place it
Yea definitely a shame to see him go down the way he did and it sucks if he can’t ever play again. Not sure id risk it coming back at his age after being out as long as he has.
Not sure how any player wants to play for the Skins at this point. Their incompetence almost cost Trent Williams his life and Alex Smith his leg.