Ron Rivera didn’t just make the decision to bench Dwayne Haskins last week for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. He also promoted Alex Smith to the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Kyle Allen, putting him one play away from being thrust into a game for the first time since his gruesome leg injury in 2018.
Unfortunately for Washington, Allen suffered an arm injury in the second quarter, which meant it was Smith’s time to shine. Smith entered the game in relief of Allen and played the rest of the game, completing his remarkable two-year comeback from a horrific leg injury that required 17 surgeries.
Smith’s reconstructed leg was put to the test early and often against the Rams, getting sacked six times and hit a bunch more. He finished with only 37 yards passing on 17 attempts, but the fact that he even stepped foot on an NFL field again is an incredible feat in its own right.
The Rams marveled at Smith’s comeback after the game, with Jared Goff calling it “one of the most amazing things in football history.”
Here’s Goff’s full quote on Smith from Stu Jackson of the Rams.
“That is truly one of the most amazing things I think, not only that we’ve ever seen, but one of the most amazing things in football history, is him getting back from that injury,” he said. “The respect I have for him and just the way he goes about his business. My interactions with him have always been awesome. He’s a great guy and deserves everything. You look at a guy that’s made however much money he’s made in his career, in Year 16, towards the end of his career, to want to come back from an injury like that, to want to come back from potentially almost losing his leg and come back out and play today – I said it in (our) postgame, but I’ll be able to tell people forever that I watched that and saw that happen. So I’m extremely happy for him and hoping for the best for him.”
Goff wasn’t the only one to comment on Smith’s comeback, either. Johnny Hekker shared a heartfelt tweet after the game, calling it a “huge moment for Alex Smith today.”
Huge moment for Alex Smith today. Incredible to witness something like that play out in person. Nothing but respect for him completing his comeback journey.
— Johnny Hekker (@JHekker) October 11, 2020
Sean McVay never worked with Smith in Washington, but he obviously has a ton of respect for the veteran quarterback. He was impressed with Smith’s resilience and return to the field on Sunday, though he wishes the weather would’ve cooperated a little bit better.
The constant rain made it difficult for Washington to do much of anything on offense, especially for Smith when throwing the ball downfield.
Sean McVay on Alex Smith entering the game: “It’s incredible, what he has overcome…you almost wish it were in better (weather) conditions, weird to say when it’s also our defense making things so difficult for him…I am just so impressed with him.”
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) October 11, 2020
It remains to be seen who Washington will start at quarterback moving forward, but Smith should be in the running after proving he’s healthy enough to play again. It could come down to Allen’s health and whether he’s able to play in Washington’s next game.
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