After 17 surgeries and nearly having his leg amputated, Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith hopes to play football again. However, head coach Ron Rivera relayed the one thing Smith needs to be able to do before he is allowed to return to the field of play.
“The one thing that he and I talked about, more than anything else, is he’s got to be able to protect himself out on the football field before anything can happen, before we can allow him back on the field,” Rivera told NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico on Lunch Talk Live.
Smith suffered devastating leg injury during a November 2018 games, as he was being sacked by Houston Texans’ JJ Watt and Kareem Jackson. As documented in ESPN’s Project 11 documentary, Smith developed an infection in his leg following the initial surgery.
A flesh-eating bacteria ravaged through his leg, requiring multiple surgeries to stop. In total, Smith underwent 17 surgeries and doctors faced the possibility of amputating his injured leg.
Smith was confined to a wheelchair and wore an external fixator for months. Still, Smith is holding out hope of returning to the field. His rehab has progressed. He has since been seen running and training like a man determined to get back on the field.
Smith’s recovery to normal life is an inspiration alone. Anything beyond that towards him returning to the field will be more incredible. But just as Rivera is correct. Smith has to be able to protect himself on the field.
It’s amazing to see Smith running at full speed. Him being able to turn and pivot on the same leg that he nearly lost, incredible. Yet, protecting himself from further injury to his leg is far more important.
