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Joe Theismann already naming Alex Smith Comeback Player of the Year

By Jacob Camenker

NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 26: Joe Theismann joins Cigna at the Health Improvement Tour during the 44th Marine Corps Marathon Weekend to get his biometric screening and encourage everyone to take control of their health, body and mind at Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on October 26, 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Cigna)
NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 26: Joe Theismann joins Cigna at the Health Improvement Tour during the 44th Marine Corps Marathon Weekend to get his biometric screening and encourage everyone to take control of their health, body and mind at Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on October 26, 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Cigna) /
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Joe Theismann gave his thoughts on Alex Smith’s recovery from injury in a recent interview, and the Washington Football Team legend had rave reviews for the quarterback.

On November 18, 1985, Joe Theismann suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula while playing against the New York Giants. The injury ended the 35-year-old quarterback’s career.

Thirty-three years to date later, Alex Smith suffered a brutal leg injury against the Houston Texans. Many assumed that his career would be over, too. After all, he had to have 17 surgeries in nine months to repair his leg and along the way, he nearly lost the limb and nearly lost his life after developing sepsis.

But Smith never gave up on returning to football. And on Sunday, he was activated from the PUP list and returned to the practice field for the first time.

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Needless to say, Theismann was impressed with Smith’s recovery and perseverance, and he had high praise for Smith when asked about his comeback.

“He has gone through a lot more than I had to go through,” Theismann said to ESPN’s John Keim. “For me it was a question of the leg healing and then trying to do certain things required of the quarterback position. Alex came within 24 hours of losing his leg. I didn’t wind up with complications; he wound up with a tremendous amount of complications. It wasn’t just healing from a broken leg. The mountain he had to climb is so much greater.

“No matter what happens he’s already won the award for comeback player of the year.”

That’s certainly high praise. And while some may view it as premature to declare Smith the Comeback Player of the Year, Theismann may have a point. The odds were stacked against Smith, yet he is back on the field less than two years after one of the worst injuries in NFL history.

Regardless of what Smith can accomplish moving forward, his comeback is remarkable. He may not get on the field in game action in 2020, especially since there aren’t any preseason games, but getting on the practice field is — potential rewards aside — a massive accomplishment.

And Theismann does believe that Smith will have a chance to go out and do “certain things”, whether that be getting back on the football field or maintaining a quality of life with his family.

“I was pulling for him from day one,” Theismann said, per Keim. “In the beginning everyone said he’ll never play again. I never bought that. Knowing Alex as I’ve come to know him and the determination he had. … When you watch the show Project 11, the way the show ends he was so much further ahead than where that show ended. Now he has a chance to go out and do certain things.”

Next. Dwayne Haskins has an excellent mindset for 2020. dark

It’s nice to see that Theismann has faith in Smith’s progress. He is one of the few people in the world who can truly understand what Smith went through with his injury. So if Theismann believes in Smith, perhaps he will, one day, set foot on the field in game action once again.

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