Alex Smith Unlikely to Start 2019 Season

by
Former Writers
December 13, 2018

Keith Allison via Flickr

Alex Smith’s Leg Injury Grows More Complicated

In Week 11 of the season, Washington Redskins’ quarterback Alex Smith was carted off the field in a 21-23 loss to the Houston Texans. Smith went down on a 3rd and 9 after being sacked by Texans’ safety Kareem Jackson. Smith was ruled out immediately with an ankle injury. Upon further tests, Smith had broken multiple bones in his leg.

After receiving surgery for his broken tibia and fibula, Smith developed an infection, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Smith is still in the hospital battling the serious infection and is unlikely to be able to return at the beginning of the 2019 season.

Alex Smith’s Future

It will indeed be a long battle for him to get back to football. According to Good Morning Football Weekend host Mike Garafolo, Smith has had close to half a dozen surgeries. Infected tissue from the operation was being removed. A plate was inserted in his leg to help support the aftermath of the break. The plate then became infected as well and needed to be removed.

From @gmfb Weekend: #Redskins QB Alex Smith remains in the hospital, while the team knows at the least, he's unlikely to be ready for the start of 2019. They need to add a QB this offseason. pic.twitter.com/58dizUolUM

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 9, 2018

“No one has been able to definitively say he is going to play football going forward,” Rapport said on GMFB Weekend. “Of course everyone hopes that he is, but if you’re the Washington Redskins the reality is Smith is unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2019 season. They know right now they do need to find a quarterback to at least begin the season with. It’s just unclear whether that’s going to come in free agency or potentially in the draft.”

Alex Smith has been in the league 14 years. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Smith in the 2005 NFL Draft then moved to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. He was traded to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. Smith then signed a four-year $94 million contract extension in March.

With Smith’s injury, backup QB Colt McCoy was called into the game. Washington later signed Mark Sanchez to be the third string QB. McCoy broke his right fibula Monday in a 28-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, ending his season in only his second start this year. After a short stint with Sanchez, Josh Johnson has taken over the quarterback duties.

In his first season with the Redskins, Smith threw for 2,180 yards and ten touchdowns and five interceptions in ten games.