What happened to Alex Smith? Incredible Journey of overcoming a career-threatening leg Injury and rising to NFL stardom again
Alex Smith won the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year award for his remarkable achievement.
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Apart from the non-stop action, one of the best things about sports is the stories it bears. From the cliche underdogs beating the favorites to players overcoming the most unlikely odds, the world of football has told many stories to its audience. One among them is the remarkable comeback from the plethora of quarterbacks, Alex Smith, who beat all the odds by playing at a high level with the NFL despite previously suffering a career-ending leg injury.
Alex Smith was signed by the Washington Commanders (previously called the Washington Redskins) in January 2018 after he spent 13 seasons in the league with the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran proved to be a good signing since he led the team to a 6-3 record as a starting quarterback through 10 weeks of the 2018 regular season. Mike Singletary’s terrain at San Francisco in 2009 had seen Alex Smith’s fight for the starting QB position.
However, the Commanders’ week 11 matchup against the Houston Texans changed everything for the 3-time Pro Bowler. During the third quarter of the game, Smith suffered, courtesy of Kareem Jackson and JJ Watt’s legal sack, a devastating leg injury, which was at that time dubbed a career-ending. It was one of the most graphic injuries that the NFL world has witnessed so far and it required 17 surgeries, one life-threatening injection, and months of rehab for him to be able to walk without assistance again.
But despite this gruesome injury, Alex Smith managed to return to the football field as the Washington Commanders‘ signal-caller and made big news. He led them to the NFL postseason in the 2020 season. Shame that Alex Smith’s run was not possible for multiple seasons.
Alex Smith’s remarkable comeback
693 days after the Commanders QB Alex Smith was carted off the field with a leg injury, he made a comeback and even led the Washington-based team to the playoffs. Now, let’s take a look at the journey.
Three months after the injury, Smith visited a military rehabilitation center in San Antonio to meet with the veterans. It was during this visit, Smith first thought of getting back into the football field according to his ESPN documentary.
On Aug 16, 2020, almost 10 months after the injury, Smith was cleared to involve in football activities by the doctors. Smith took the field with a special brace on his leg due to his inability to lift his right foot when he runs or walks.
And then as a massive step on his comeback, Smith was named on the 53-man roster by the Washington franchise on September 5, 2020. Furthermore, Smith made a return to the field on October 11, 2020, during the second quarter of their game against the LA Rams.
And then as a massive step on his comeback, Smith was named on the 53-man roster by the Washington franchise on September 5, 2020. Furthermore, Smith made a return to the field on October 11, 2020, during the second quarter of their game against the LA Rams.
Moreover, he eventually became the starter of the team in week 10 of the 2020 season against the Detroit Lions and led his team to a wildcard spot. Smith finished the season with 1582 passing yards and six touchdowns while completing 66.7% of his passes.
For his heroic return and remarkable performance in the comeback, the Comeback Player of the Year award for the 2020 season was deservedly bestowed to Alex Smith’s name. After the incredible comeback, Smith announced his retirement in April via social media and is now working with ESPN as an analyst. The story of Alex Smith’s incredible fight will definitely be sung for many seasons to come!
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Aravind Raj
(2075 Articles Published)