Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith was released from the hospital, according to ESPN report by John Keim and Adam Schefter.
Smith suffered a compound fracture when he was sacked in a Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans on Nov. 18. Smith broke his fibula and tibia. Unfortunately, he underwent multiple surgeries after developing an infection following the initial repair surgery. Tissue was removed to combat the infection. Additionally, the plate placed in his leg during the initial repair surgery had to be removed, according to a previous report by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Smith’s injury is consider career-threatening, but sources of Schefter and Keim said there is optimism the 34-year old can return to continue his football career. Washington reportedly will survey the quarterback market this off-season with there being some doubt Smith will be ready by the start of the 2019 season.
Smith signed a four-year extension worth $94 million after the Redskins acquired him in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in January. The deal included $71 million in guarantees, that would put the Redskins in a salary cap strain with a $20.4 million cap hit in 2019 followed by $21.4 million in 2020.
The Redskins turned to backup Colt McCoy in lieu of Smith’s injury. However, he suffered a broken fibula in just his second start against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec 3. Mark Sanchez, who the Redskins signed on Nov. 19 after Smith’s injury, replaced McCoy as the starter last Sunday. However, he was bench in the third quarter after falling behind 40-0 against the New York Giants in favor of Josh Johnson, who was signed on Dec. 5. Johnson will make his first start in seven years when Washington plays at the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday.
McCoy is the best option currently on the roster to be Washington’s starter in case Smith cannot return at the start of the 2019 season. McCoy is in the first of a two-year deal he signed this past off-season. Considering the cap hit for Smith there won’t be many options for the Redskins to consider.
