what happened to alex smith

1 year ago 51
Nature

In 2018, Alex Smith, the former quarterback for the Washington Redskins, suffered a compound fracture that broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg during a game against the Houston Texans. The injury was caused by a tackle from Kareem Jackson and J.J. Watt, and it resulted in Smith requiring a total of 17 surgeries to recover. After the initial surgery to repair the break, Smith was infected with flesh-eating bacteria that further complicated his recovery. The infection caused immense problems, and there was even some consideration given to amputating Smiths right leg above the knee. Smith had to undergo a muscle transfer and microvascular surgery to further address the infection, and more than 10 additional surgeries were needed to get everything under control. Smith wasnt cleared by his medical team to return to the field until July 2020, about 20 months after the initial injury. Despite the severity of his injury, Smith made a remarkable comeback and returned to the NFL in 2020, starting two games for the Washington Football Team. He was named Comeback Player of the Year and led the team to a playoff berth. Smith retired from the NFL in 2021 and planned to spend more time with his family, including his three children.