Joe Robbins/Getty Images
It’s been two months since Redskins quarterback Alex Smith suffered a stomach-churning leg injury against the Titans, 33 years to the day after Joe Theismann’s infamously broke his leg for the same franchise. Smith, who had led the Redskins to a 6-3 record and first in the NFC East at the time, broke both the fibula and tibia in his right leg on a third-quarter sack, instantly ending his 2018 campaign.
What’s worse is that the 34-year-old suffered an infection related to the surgery that required several additional surgeries and extended his hospital stay to four weeks. Smith was released from the hospital in mid-December, but had yet to appear in the public eye until he was spotted at the Wizards’ home game against the Pistons Monday.
His leg cast is…complex.
.@Redskins QB Alex Smith looks to be in good spirits during his first public appearance since leg surgery 👀 #HTTR
(via @NBCSWizards) https://t.co/R9bOtxAzED
— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) January 21, 2019
I’m no medical professional, but it would seem that there are less janky leg injury apparatuses than something that looks like a high school science project.
Alex Smith made an appearance in the Wizards locker room. pic.twitter.com/eUDdHfgg5P
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 21, 2019
this is the contraption of alex smith's leg
he just came to say hi to the wizards players with his son pic.twitter.com/ucctkajppi
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) January 21, 2019
According to ProFootballDoc, Smith is wearing what is known as an ‘external fixator.’
Smith has an external fixator (a system of pins/wires with rods, like an erector set similar to the look of scaffold on the outside of a building) applied to his leg. This is necessary as the plates/screws holding the fracture were removed. A cast would not work due to the need to access the wound. The apparatus looks archaic and scary but is necessary in these situations.
Smith’s career still hangs in the balance,