Almost two years after fracturing his leg, Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith has been cleared by the team’s medical staff to return to the field.
Smith had a grueling recovery and had to undergo a total of 17 surgeries since his November 2018 injury in which he suffered a spiral and compound fracture of his tibia and fibula. He also battled necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis that could have cost him both his leg and his life.
His story is one of unrivaled perseverance, and even if he never plays again, the fact that he has recovered and is healthy enough to practice with the team is amazing enough.
Smith was the Kansas City Chiefs’ no. 1 overall pick in 2005 and was traded to the Washington Football Team in January 2018. His next challenge is to see whether he can take the starting job this year from Dwayne Haskins Jr., the young quarterback that Washington picked in the first round of the 2019 draft to be the team’s future leader.
Washington’s new head coach Ron Riviera has commented, saying if Smith is healthy, he is going to have an opportunity to compete with Haskins Jr. and battle for the starting job.
