The Miracle Return Of Washington's NFL QB

Alex Smith played quarterback for the Washington Football Team Sunday, doing what appeared to be virtually impossible two years ago when a leg injury threatened his life.

Replacing signal-caller Kyle Allen, who left the game against the Los Angeles Rams with an injury, Smith stepped on the field for the first time since Nov. 18, 2018. That’s the day Smith suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg. Smith would undergo 17 surgeries, nearly losing his leg to a flesh-eating bacteria.

“Our first priority is we're going to save his life,” Washington team doctor Robin West told Smith’s wife, Elizabeth Smith, via ESPN.com. “And then we're going to do our best to save his leg. And anything beyond that is a miracle.”

Elizabeth and their three children witnessed a miracle Sunday at FedExField as Alex entered the game with 1:53 left in the second quarter. The 36-year-old played the remainder of the contest, prompting an outpouring of support from NFL fans and the sports world.

Smith was thrown right into the fire, going up against the most feared defensive player in football. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald welcomed Smith back to the field by jumping on his back and sacking the quarterback. Smith popped right back up, proving that he was ready to be back under center.

In two-plus quarters, Smith was under constant pressure and sacked six times. He completed nine of 17 passes for 37 yards in the 30-10 loss.

The stats are only a footnote in Smith’s return. His inspirational comeback is one that even Smith himself wasn’t sure would ever happen.

“I'd be lying if I said there weren’t a lot of days I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Smith told reporters after the game. “You’ve just got to keep pushing through. I always felt when I had my darkest moments, there was always something around the corner that happened and I kept plugging along.”