Alex Smith’s return to practice Sunday triggered a flurry of emotions in and around the NFL. Twenty-one months after suffering a life-threatening leg injury, Smith was medically cleared for football activity for the first time.
The consensus? His former teammates and coaches couldn’t be happier.
“How great is that,” said Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who coached Smith for five seasons. “I’m so happy for him. He’s dirty tough and he loves playing the game. We all saw the (ESPN) special on him and the rehab he went through. I’m very, very happy for him.”
That ESPN special — “Project 11” — documented just how serious Smith’s injury was. The quarterback, who broke his leg in November 2018 against the Houston Texans, required 17 surgeries and developed an infection that caused doctors to seriously consider whether to amputate his leg in order to save Smith’s life.
Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy echoed a similar sentiment to Reid. McCarthy was Smith’s offensive coordinator in San Francisco for his rookie season when the quarterback was drafted first overall in 2005.
“What he has gone through in his rehab is beyond remarkable,” McCarthy told reporters. “… I think it’s speak to him personally. He’s always had tremendous fight, grit and the things he’s gone through throughout his whole career. I wish him well.”
Former 49ers running back Frank Gore reacted to the news, tweeting: “This makes me real happy!!”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also weighed in on Smith’s recovery. Despite the Chiefs drafting Mahomes in the first round in 2017, paving the way for Smith’s exit from Kansas City, the two men remain close as Mahomes credits Smith for his development.
Mahomes told reporters he texted Smith before training camp.
“It just shows the grit that he has,” Mahomes said. “He’s always persevered.”
Smith’s wife, Elizabeth, posted video of the family celebrating the news. On Sunday, she also wrote a message about her husband’s recovery — calling it a reason to never give up.
— Elizabeth Smith (@lizbsmith11) August 16, 2020
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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