Alex Smith injury update: Redskins quarterback has ‘devastating complications’ following surgery

Alex Smith’s ability to even begin any sort of rehabilitation to a spiral fracture to his leg has been delayed by “devastating complications.”

Alex Smith already faced a long, arduous road ahead after suffering a spiral fracture of his tibia and fibula earlier this season after suffering a gruesome hit against the Houston Texans. Now the Washington Redskins quarterback is facing further setbacks if reports are correct that the veteran is suffering from “devastating complications” following surgery.

Smith went down in Week 11 and was carted off the field in the third quarter against the Texans as Colt McCoy took over. It was clear that the compound fracture, which means the bone broke the skin, would end Smith’s season.

From there, rumors began to circulate that Smith might not even play another down in the NFL given the complexity and severity of the injury. Patrick Mahomes, his replacement with the Kansas City Chiefs, spoke out in support of him saying he knew he could return, but the reality of the situation is looking worse as time goes on. Check out the latest report from Eric Bickel:

There are a few things to parse out here that could spin the report in various ways, but they’re all important to sift through.

1. First of all, this is not an official injury report of any kind. This is all secondhand information and more media outlets will run with it the more sensationalized it will sound. If you say he’s still injured, no one cares. If you say the career is in jeopardy, we’re all paying attention. Calling the complications “devastating” will play right into this.
2. That said, this was the initial fear that caused people to doubt Smith’s ability to come back in the first place. The doubts were less about Smith himself as if he lacked the substance or character to follow through, and more about the severity of the injury. It was a spiral fracture. It was a compound fracture. It isn’t a simple set-and-heal surgery that time will heal.
3. Infection and further surgeries will only delay any real timetable, which means we’re going to be guessing about Alex Smith’s future for a long time.

Even though he’s no longer with Kansas City, he’s still held in high regard by Chiefs Kingdom as a man who helped Andy Reid right the ship for a half decade. Smith averaged 10 wins per season with the Chiefs and took them to the postseason four out of five years. He was also an exemplary man off the field.

Here’s hoping the complications have been sensationalized and that Smith is somehow able to overcome the odds and climb another mountain that stands in front of him.