A letter to Alex Smith after ESPN’s ‘Project 11’ documentary

After watching ESPN’s “Project 11” documentary about the gruesome injury suffered by Alex Smith and his long road to recovery, here are some words for the Washington Redskins quarterback.

Dear Alex Smith,

If you ever end up reading this, I hope that this letter finds you well and in good health. I, along with many other Redskins fans, media members, and worldwide sports enthusiasts just saw the ESPN documentary “Project 11” about your recovery from the gruesome leg injury you suffered against the Houston Texans.

And let me tell you, I left awestruck in the strength and perseverance of both you and your family.

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On the fateful day of Nov. 18, 2018, we all witnessed your injury. And we knew it was terrible right from the start.

The peril the injury would put your life in and the agonizing decisions that came in the months to follow? That’s something that the masses were only partially aware of until now. So, first and foremost, thank you for sharing your story.

Seeing the aftermath of the injury was jolting. The blisters and countless stitch-marks on the leg. The X-rays with seemingly endless amounts of metal, screws, and plates supporting the shattered bone. The necrotic tissue from flesh-eating bacteria that invaded the wound. And the images of what was left of the limb after that tissue had been removed.

All of it was shocking.

I know that you and your family dealt with these issues in real-time. And the whole situation was clearly and understandably traumatic. But thank you to you and your wife Elizabeth for opening your hearts to the audience to let us see yourselves at your most vulnerable and human while also showing the strength you had when faced with adversity.

Understanding just how much was at stake was critical for those that too often see your name as just a contract. A sunk cost for a football team that they love. Hearing Elizabeth utter the following words, as transcribed by ESPN, should help to change that perspective.

"Please, can you just break this down for me? My husband is laying here. And he’s dying. And it’s coming from his leg. I just need to know — why can’t we just — cut it off? I need to know if I’m going to be able to leave this place with him with me. I can’t go home to my children without him with me. We need to make sure he’s OK."

You are far more than a contract. Or a number. You’re a Redskins quarterback who had the same bad luck that Joe Theismann had 33 years to the day. You’re a survivor of a traumatic event and by all accounts, a great man and human being.

But above all else, you’re an inspiration. You’ve now shown so many what it takes to push through something incredibly difficult like that. And amid the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s an example that we all could use.

I know you’re hoping to return to football as a long-term goal. Even if you can’t get back on the field, I hope that you stick around the Redskins team. You’ll do nothing but good for the team’s culture and will certainly be welcome on a team with many young quarterbacks who could use a mentor.

And hey, if you are somehow able to make it back on the field, know that every Redskins fan in the world will be ready to cheer you on. Because my goodness, you deserve it.

So, thanks again for sharing your story. Keep on keeping on and hopefully, we’ll see you back on the field someday soon.

Sincerely,

Jacob Camenker