On Monday, Redskins QB Alex Smith was seen at a Washington Wizards game with a large brace on his broken leg.
Former NFL physician David Chao explains that Smith is wearing ring external fixator called an Ilizarov device on his right lower leg. The brace includes sequential rings outside that are connected to each other with spoke-like wires that pierce through his leg and are connected to the rings.
Chao says this confirms that Smith suffered “significant complications” and while the initial belief was that he would be able to return for the 2019 season, it’s now likely he’ll require “several” more surgeries and procedures to remove the ring external fixator.
Unfortunately, Chao writes that there’s no way of knowing whether Smith will be ready for the 2019 or even play in the NFL again for that matter.
It’s possible Smith may need a free flap graft that would take a muscle from another part of his body and reconnect it to the leg area to cover the exposed area where infected tissue was removed. Chao mentions that if this is needed, it would make it hard for Smith to play football again.
According to Chao, there’s still hope Smith can resume his career if he chooses, but the Redskins will need to find a starting quarterback for 2019 and likely for the years to come.
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 Redskins 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.
We’ll have more regarding Smith as the news is available.
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