Alex Smith plans to play again, but needs to master lifestyle steps first
For the first time since suffering a gruesome broken leg seven months ago, Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith opened up about the injury to FOX 5 DC’s Angie Goff. Smith talked about the injury, his recovery, and playing again in the NFL.
The interview took place while the pair partook in seated massages. Goff asked Smith how long he would need to wear the terminator leg. Smith explained that it was an external fixator and explained that it may come off in four to six weeks, stating, ” “This thing is going to save my leg, save my bone, and allow me to heal and walk again and help me play football again.” Goff asked Smith about playing again to which he replied, “That’s the plan.”
The veteran quarterback went on to clarify, “There are steps I’ve got to conquer before I get there. Learning to run again. That’s a big one. I’m already throwing. Throwing isn’t a problem, but dropping, moving around, change of direction.” Smith went on, “The steps I’m at now are lifestyle steps…Those are things I have to conquer anyway until I get to the point where I’m walking on the field.”
Smith went on to discuss his recovery, thus far, with Goff. “The last three months have definitely been life-changing. I’ve been able to start driving, I can work out, I’m off the crutches.” The quarterback opened up about the initial months after the devastating injury, stating, “The first four months were really, really hard, both (physically and mentally); just to be in a wheelchair for as long as I was.”
The three-time Pro-Bowler is keeping up a positive outlook throughout his ordeal, telling Goff, ” (I) try not to get caught up with how far down the line (in the recovery process) … It’s crazy looking and it sucks what happened, but at the same time, there are people out there that have it way worse. Stuff happens to everybody, life happens, and for me, I feel like this is a time for … being tested and having this challenge in front of me and how can I handle it.”
The Redskins open up training camp on Thursday, July 25 at 9:45 a.m. in Richmond, VA.
