After a horrifying leg injury that nearly claimed his life, Alex Smith has been cleared by his surgical team for a full return to football activity.
“Everyone was in agreement that my bone was in a really good place,” Smith told ESPN. “I had healed a lot. They said that given the combination of the rod and where I was with the healing process, I had zero limitations and could even resume some football activities.”
Smith’s surgical team has cleared him for all activities, as he has healed so much that he could even go snowboarding tomorrow if he wanted.
Smith, the former Heisman Trophy finalist that led the University of Utah to an undefeated season and a Fiesta Bowl championship in the 2004 season, is 36 and has three years remaining on his contract with Washington.
The next step for Smith in his return to football will be passing a physical by the Washington Football Team doctor, according to a Washington spokesperson.
“For me, all eyes are on practice,” Smith said. “That’s the next step. I have to go prove to myself and certainly to everybody else that I can go practice.”
In 10 games for Washington, Smith was completing 62.5% of his passes, throwing for 2,180 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a tibia and fibula fracture in 2018.
Last season, Case Keenum started off the season as Washington’s starting quarterback before being replaced by Dwayne Haskins. Haskins is the presumed starter for Washington, competing with former Carolina Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen and possibly Smith.