“Another step, another thing I never thought I’d be doing again. It’s one thing to come back to come out and get that first playing time and a whole other deal to play winning football as a starter,” Smith stated in ” ‘Washington Football Team QB Alex Smith earns first win since comeback from leg injury’,” by John Keim.

The Redskins were against the Houston Texans, the Redskins (now known as the Football Team) were down 17-7 in the third quarter. Third down and seven Alex Smith gets the snap and runs as the Washington offensive did not block Justin James Watt. Smith was sacked, or tackled from behind the line of scrimmage. On his fall down, he landed awkwardly and from that point, he knew something was not right. 

“I could visually see the blood pumping out, so it was a good one. It was lucky to have it happen just before halftime. I’ve never had one gush like that,” Alex Smith stated in “Alex Smith on leg gash: ‘I could see the blood pumping out,” by Mike Florio.

When he first suffered from the injury, he had thought it was just a broken leg, but as more work was being done to his leg, it wasn’t a broken leg. He was suffering from a spiral compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg. He had to undergo 17 total surgeries. He almost had his leg amputated and nearly died. The return of Smith to the NFL looked almost impossible. 

“This time it wasn’t about football—it was bigger. It was about me being a father to play with my children, a husband to go on walks with my wife, and despite my new limitations, me getting my life back,” Alex Smith stated in “Alex Smith Says His Comeback ‘Threw A Wrench’ Into WFT’s Plans And That Team Didn’t Even Want Him There,” by Nick Dimengo

After two years of constant rehabbing and watching his team from home, he came back from his nearly impossible leg injury to play for the rest of the year. He helped lead the Football Team to a five to three when he came back leading them to the playoffs but just fell short. In the NFL Honors Awards, Alex Smith was awarded the Comeback Player of the Award. He went from almost not ever playing to leading his team to the playoffs. Truly inspirational.

“When I decided to come back, I threw a wrench in the team’s plan. They didn’t see it, didn’t want me there, didn’t want me to be a part of it, didn’t want me to be on the team, the roster, didn’t want to give me a chance,” stated by Smith in “Alex Smith on His Comeback: ‘I Never Thought it Would Happen’,” by Clay Skipper.