Alex Smith suffered what looked like one of the most gruesome football injuries of the season on Sunday, and it has become clear that it was every bit as horrifying as it appeared.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said after Washington’s 23-21 loss to Houston that Smith suffered a broken tibia and fibula and will undergo surgery. On Monday, Adam Schefter shared some details about the injury that are easy to understand, but far more difficult to digest.
Alex Smith suffered a compound fracture – meaning the bone broke through his skin, per source. Trauma surgeons discovered Smith suffered a spiral fracture in his leg – defined as a long bone broken by a rotational force. Smith, 34, faces a lengthy rehab process to try to return.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 19, 2018
You could tell by the way the NFL community responded to Smith’s injury that it was almost as bad as it gets, but that description really puts it into perspective. Fortunately, Smith’s injury is not considered career-threatening, though he will obviously have plenty of work to do in order to get back to full strength.
Smith will turn 35 this offseason, and Washington committed $71 million guaranteed to him last summer. He should be their starter going forward as long as he has a smooth recovery.
