There is no better story in the NFL in 2020 than that of the comeback that Alex Smith has made after suffering a compound fracture in which he broke both his tibia and fibula during the 2018 season.
Most medical experts believed Smith’s injury would cause him to retire from the NFL but the Washington Football Team’s quarterback was not willing to accept that. Instead, Smith battled back, including fighting off an infection which reportedly resulted in 16 additional surgeries.
Now, Smith is back in the league and he is coming off a start in which he completed 75% of his pass attempts for 325 yards and a touchdown (he also added three interceptions) in a 23-20 loss to the New York Giants.
Up next for Smith and Washington is a matchup against the struggling Detroit Lions.
On Wednesday, one of Smith’s former teammates turned Detroit Lion had a message for him.
Lions linebacker Reggie Ragland spoke to reporters on Wednesday and he said that though he has an amazing amount of respect for Smith, he is still going to get after him.
“Everything he’s been through these last couple of years, for him to come back and even play and attempt to play? Man, I’m so happy for him,” Ragland said via Zoom on Wednesday. “I can’t wait to see him. I’m going to give him a hug, damn the COVID protocols and rules. I’m going to give my guy a hug. I’m ecstatic for him. Even though he’s a great football player, he’s an even better person. I’m happy for them. If I’m playing against you, I still got to get after your ass. We still got to get at him and affect him, and we can’t let him get comfortable and get hot because, at the end of the day, he’s still a baller. If you’re playing, you can play. Still got to get after him and affect him a little bit.”
