Alex Smith Released From Hospital, NFL Future Still Uncertain

Adam Schefter and John Keim of ESPN are reporting that Redskins QB Alex Smith has been released from the hospital after spending days in the hospital and undergoing multiple surgeries on his leg to deal with an infection.

According to the report, Smith’s prognosis is “encouraging” and there is “some optimism” that he will be able to resume his NFL career. However, that’s still uncertain at this point in time and the priority for Smith right now is for him to simply recover from the spiral leg fracture he suffered last month.

ESPN mentions that if Smith were unable to play, the Redskins would be forced to eat $20.4 million in 2019 and another $21.4 million in 2020, which would have a big impact on the team’s cap space moving forward.

With this in mind, Washington’s best source of action — in the event Smith is unable to return from his serious leg injury — would be to draft a quarterback.

Mike Garafolo reported last week that Smith has had nearly a half-dozen surgeries to remove infected tissue in his leg. According to Garafolo, doctors inserted a metal plate into Smith’s leg to bind the broken bones, but it, unfortunately, got infected and had to be taken out.

Smith, 34, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2005. After seven years in San Francisco, Smith was traded to the Chiefs in 2013.

Smith was in the fourth year of his five-year, $76 million contract that includes $45 million guaranteed and set to make a base salary of $10.8 million for the 2018 season when he was traded to the Redskins back in March.

The Redskin and Smith later agreed to a four-year, $94 million contract that included $55 million fully guaranteed.

In 2018, Smith appeared in 10 games for the Redskins and completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,045 yards receiving to go along with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed for 168 yards and a touchdown.