Alex Smith cleared for football activity at Washington, 21 months after gruesome injury - Sporting News

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Alex Smith's journey back to the football field is nearly complete.

The 36-year-old quarterback on Sunday was activated off Washington's PUP list and cleared to participate in football activities — the final step in a grueling 21-month recovery. The Washington Football Team posted the news — teased by Smith's wife earlier on Instagram — in a celebratory tweet:

MORE: Alex Smith documentary: 3 takeaways from 'Project 11'

Check out how Smith's family celebrated his ability to get back to football:

Smith was cleared by his surgical team to return to football activity in late July, though the team placed him on the PUP list. That made it impossible for him to participate in team practices, but made it so he could work with team trainers and participate in conditioning exercises.

Smith has not played a down of football since Nov. 18, 2018, when he suffered a spiral and compound fracture on his right tibia and fibula against the Texans. He knew then and there that his injuries, which would require 17 surgeries to repair, were not normal; there was a genuine fear he would lose his leg. Ultimately, Smith said, he was lucky to be alive — even if he had to relearn how to run.

Photos of his leg following surgery showed how bleak Smith's prognosis was: His leg was mangled, horribly swollen and oozing infection. That he could resume any physical activity after that injury is itself Herculean. Now, he'll aim to finish the recovery process by challenging for Washington's starting quarterback position, something he has aimed for even during his recovery.

MORE: New Alex Smith doc reveals horrifying photo of quarterback's post-surgery leg

“I’m still determined (to play), still marching down the road, still optimistic,” Smith told Yahoo Sports in July 2019. “I want to push it, for the challenge’s sake. I want to see what I’ve got. … I enjoy the challenge, even to this (recovery), coming out here and being with the guys. It’s not going to last forever. I’d like to see where it leads.”

Second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is the incumbent starting quarterback in Washington. He completed 119 of 203 passes (58.6 percent) for 1,365 yards and seven touchdowns to seven interceptions as a rookie. It's certainly no given that Smith will be able to wrest control of the position, given the franchise likely wants to build future teams around Haskins.

Even if Smith never starts another game, however, his is already one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.

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Alex Smith cleared for football activity at Washington, 21 months after gruesome injury - Sporting News
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