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After four weeks in the hospital battling a serious infection in his badly injured leg, Alex Smith’s wife, Elizabeth, announced his return home with an emotional message on Instagram.
A couple of weeks ago, Ian Rappaport reported that Smith was battling an infection related to the surgery he had on his broken fibula and tibia, saying it was being handled with care and dealt with seriously by doctors.
Doctors performed surgery on #Redskins QB Alex Smith right away, that night, to attempt to prevent infection. Now, he’s battling one. The #Redskins statement asks for privacy. https://t.co/G2EljNmrO2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 6, 2018
There was a lot of speculation about what these complications could mean to Smith’s chances of returning to the NFL. And even some discussion that if the infection wasn’t dealt with quickly and properly there was a small chance of amputation.
Thankfully, things didn’t have to go to that extreme and now Smith is back home.
Posting to Instagram on Sunday, Alex Smith’s wife Elizabeth wrote…
“HOME…This last month has been a difficult ride. Our family is beyond happy to have this man with us and home. This experience has given us great perspective and gratitude for all the people and blessings in our lives. We couldn’t have gotten through it without our amazing family, friends and community. A special thank you to the relentless doctors, nurses, techs, hospital administrators, the Snyder family and the Washington Redskins.”
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and John Keim, “There is some optimism, but hardly certainty, that Smith will be able to resume his NFL career, though the priority for now is simply recovering from a spiral leg fracture that became infected after multiple surgeries.”
On the plus (?) side, Smith will have company in his recovery in the form of his backup, Colt McCoy, who broke his right fibula in the December 3rd game in Philadelphia.
As for the Redskins, from a business perspective, they really need Smith to return, and play well, because if he can’t he will cost them $20.4 million worth of salary-cap space next season and $21.4 million in 2020.
Welcome home, Alex, and godspeed on your recovery.