Making his first start since his horrific leg injury 728 days ago, Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith threw for a career-high 390 yards Sunday against the Detroit Lions. His 38 completions and 55 pass attempts were also career bests.
Unfortunately, his heroics fell short in a 30-27 loss, but not before he nearly captained an improbable comeback.
Trailing, 24-3, Smith quarterbacked Washington’s rally. At one point Washington scored 21 unanswered points to tie the game at 24-24 in the fourth quarter. After the Lions regained the lead 27-24 with a field goal, Smith marched Washington down to a game-tying field goal with 16 seconds remaining.
On the drive he converted a 3-and-13 from his own 8-yard line. A pass interference on 4th-and-4 kept the drive going.
However, Smith’s comeback was foiled by another game-winning drive by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. A roughing the passer penalty on Washington defensive end Chase Young aided the Lions, setting up a game-winning 59-yard field goal by Matt Prater.
Despite the gut-punching loss, Smith was a huge winner for just being on the field Sunday. Added with last week’s performance off the bench, he has thrown for 300 yards in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Smith’s last start came on November 18, 2018. In that game he suffered a brutal leg injury that nearly cost him his career, leg and life. He endured 17 surgeries to repair his compound fracture and combat a series of bacteria that ravaged through his injured leg.
His journey alone makes him a Comeback Player of the Year candidate just making Washington’s 53-man roster this season. He added to the resume when he made his on-field return in relief of Kyle Allen in Week 5. But, he was thrust into the starting quarterback role following Allen’s season-ending ankle injury last week.
In his first game back as a starter, it appears Smith is comfortable back in the saddle.
