Don’t tell Alex Smith about toughness.
The former Kansas City Chiefs and now Washington Football Team quarterback suffered what appeared to be a gruesome injury to his lower left leg or ankle area during Monday’s Week 13 contest versus the then-undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fortunately, the wound, which occurred in the second quarter after Washington’s center “cleated” Smith mid-play, was not on the same leg that the 36-year-old nearly needed to have amputated in 2018 due to a sepsis infection that required 17 surgeries to fix.
Take a look:
Alex Smith bleeding around his left ankle. He appeared to be “cleated” on previous drive. It is not his surgically repaired leg.
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The injury immediately drew comparisons to the famous “bloody sock” game from former Boston Red Sox ace Curt Schilling, who pitched his team to a pivotal Game 6 win in the 2004 ALCS on a torn ankle tendon which began bleeding out mid-game.
Like the three-time World Series champion, Smith was thankfully able to return to the field after Washington’s medical staff applied tape to stop the bleeding just ahead of halftime.
After the game, Smith elaborated on the scary leg gash when asked by reporters, saying the timing of the injury was actually “fortunate.”
Alex Smith on his bloody left leg just before halftime: “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.”
Smith’s Savvy Move Confuses Refs, Leads to Points
On Monday night, the veteran passer was also indirectly responsible for the team’s first points of the night after a savvy clock move that caused “administrative issues” leading to a Washington 49-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the half.
After the intermission, the Football Team completed a stunning comeback to take down the Steelers, 23-17, in their own stadium, topped off by Smith’s 31-of-46 completions, 296 yards and fourth-quarter touchdown pass to TE Logan Thomas.
The inspiring performance led to a well-deserved heaping of praise and securing of the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award among the masses, including Houston Texans’ superstar JJ Watt and teammate Dwayne Haskins.
What Alex Smith has done is unbelievable.
Comeback Player of the Year even before taking a snap.
But playing winning football after everything he’s been through is even more incredible.
Comeback player of the year Mr. 11. THE Alex Smith.
Man if watching Alex Smith do what he’s doing right now doesn’t motivate you then something is wrong. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Phenomenal story!!
Alex Smith. Beyond words how inspiring and awesome he is. Not only is he the comeback player of the year, just rename the whole award after the guy. Wow!
Alex Smith was a shoo-in for comeback player of the year just by virtue of stepping on the field.
Knocking off the previously undefeated Steelers and keeping Washington in the playoff hunt is just gravy.
Is it fair to say Alex Smith should be awarded Comeback Player of the Year tonight?
Smith, Washington Still in the Hunt for NFC Playoff Spot
Despite a dismal 5-7 record heading following Monday’s interconference matchup, Washington remains very much in the playoff picture thanks to an NFC East division currently topped by the 5-7 New York Giants. As Smith continued to work his way back from the broken leg turned life-threatening emergency, he wasn’t given much of a chance to play in the NFL in the public eye. However, the former No. 1 overall pick had other plans, getting officially cleared for football activity on August 16.
After a helmet-to-helmet hit knocked starter Kyle Allen out of the game for Washington in Week 5, Smith was unexpectedly thrust into action against the Los Angeles Rams with his family in attendance.
Nearly two years after a life-threatening leg injury, Alex Smith has returned to the field.
(via @NFL)
The battle-tested signal-caller has since played in four games, starting the last three for the Football Team and leading his squad to a 2-1 record. Through Week 12, Smith has completed 69% of his 155 pass attempts for 1,067 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
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Washington QB Alex Smith Suffers Bloody Leg Injury in Week 13 [LOOK]