Alex Smith has been medically cleared to return to full-contact football activities.
One of the top five quarterbacks in Kansas City Chiefs history is current Washington Football Team passer Alex Smith. Smith played in Kansas City from 2013-2017, and led the Chiefs to the playoffs in four out of five seasons.
Besides turning around the franchise from a 2-14 record in 2012 to a 11-5 record in 2013, Smith may also be best remembered in Kansas City for his role in mentoring superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In 2017, when the Chiefs gave up a king’s ransom to trade up and select the former Texas Tech gunslinger with the 10th overall selection, the writing was on the wall for Smith’s tenure in Kansas City. Despite that, Smith took Mahomes under his wing and helped him to develop into an NFL quarterback, who has since went on to win and NFL MVP, a Super Bowl MVP, and a Super Bowl Championship in just two seasons as a starter.
After the 2017 season, the Chiefs were ready to turn the reigns over to Mahomes. They traded Smith to Washington in exchange for a second round draft pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. Smith became the starting quarterback immediately and was off to a 6-4 start to begin his tenure there. However, on November 18th, 2018, Smith suffered a brutal leg injury which shattered bones in his leg and has kept him out of action for the last 20 months. His injury was compounded by a terrible leg infection that nearly cost him his life, and his rehabilitation process has been long and painful.
Now, after a nearly two year layoff from the sport, the former #1 overall draft pick has been medically cleared to return to NFL action. New Washington coach Ron Rivera has said that there will be an open competition for the starting quarterback role between Smith, second-year man Dwayne Haskins (the team’s 2019 first-round pick), and Kyle Allen (who Washington traded for this offseason).
The mere fact that Smith is on the field at all is nothing short of a miracle. His injury was reminiscent of the career-ending injury of former Washington quarterback Joe Theismann. Both happened in the same city, on the same day (33 years apart), at the same spot on the field (the 39-yard line). The fact that Smith is once again competing for a starting job is inspirational.
Smith may never be a starting quarterback in the NFL again (he will be). He may also never rise to the level of being a Pro Bowl player again. But even if those things are true, his journey back to the field—from perhaps never walking right again, to almost dying from an infection after surgery, to grueling rehab and back—deserves the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in a landslide. He should also be recognized as an inspirational example for people everywhere.
His comeback cements his legacy, in my eyes, as a Chiefs Legend.
Chiefs Trivia
Each week’s column will feature a trivia question related to the Kansas City Chiefs. Challenge yourself by coming up with the correct response without looking it up! Enter for a chance to win a Chiefs prize via either Facebook or Twitter Direct/Private Messaging. Must retweet or share the column on your personal page, and provide the correct answer via PM/DM, to be eligible. Winner will be chosen at random on Saturday.
Last week’s winner was Kirk Hill of Austin, TX who received game used Chiefs memorabilia for correctly answering that Larry Johnson had 416 carries in his record setting 2006 season.
This week’s question trivia is: Before Patrick Mahomes, who was the last K.C.-drafted quarterback to start a game for the Chiefs?
Reader Question
Each week, we’ll answer a question or two from readers about our team. These can be about any topic related to the Chiefs, send me a question via DM (@kthomps58).
This week’s question comes from Trey Williams of Wichita, Kansas. Trey asks “With LDT opting out of the season, what is the most likely Week One starting offensive line composition for the Chiefs?”
Great question, Trey. Thank you!
I think that the most likely starting offensive line for Kansas City in Week One is (from left to right): Eric Fisher, Martinas Rankin, Austin Reiter, Kelechi Osemele, Mitchell Schwartz (barring further opt outs or injuries).
However, I think there are some interesting questions here as the Chiefs have quietly built a lot of depth along the front. Besides the tackles, the other three positions, and every reserve role, is up for battle during the course of training camp.
At guard, one could conceivably see: Rankin, Osemele, Mike Remmers, Lucas Niang, Andrew Wylie. At center, it should be a three way battle between the incumbent, Reiter; second-year man Nick Allegretti; and rookie free agent Darryl Williams. At the reserve tackle role, we should also see Remmers and Niang working, but Greg Senat and Yasir Durant are also on the roster.
If pressed, I’d go with the starting five above, with Remmers, Niang and Williams making the Week One roster.
Chiefs Fact of the Week
When the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV at the end of the 1969 NFL Season, they did so without winning the AFL’s West division. The Oakland Raiders finished with a 12-1-1 regular season record while the Chiefs were 11-3. Kansas City lost both regular season contests to Oakland, but defeated them in the AFL Championship Game 17-7.
Chiefs Record of the Week
In 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs set a club record with 565 points during the regular season. That is the third most points scored by a team in a season all-time (behind the 2013 Denver Broncos, and the 2016 New England Patriots), and their 35.3 points per game average is the 6th most all-time (behind the aforementioned, and three teams from the pre-16 game era).
Random Fact of the Week
The population of Ireland is still 2 million less than it was before the potato famine 160 years ago.
Sports Quote of the Week
“To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.” – Picabo Street
Oddball Sport of the Week
"Quirky meets extreme sport (or extreme rolling) on the top of one of Britain’s steepest hills, in England. Running down a hill that can only be described as Dr. Seuss-ish, to beat a nine-pound pinwheel of Gloucestershire’s best double cheese to the bottom can be both hellish and comedic, depending on where you’re standing. Dozens of contestants volunteer to hurl themselves in an-out-of control manner down the side of Copper’s Hill to beat the cheese, which can travel at 70-plus miles an hour."