Redskins QB Alex Smith ‘Without A Doubt’ Wants To Continue Playing
Dec 30, 2019, 4:20 PM
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah and current Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith expressed a desire to return to the field rather than retire and move into a front-office position.
Smith missed the entire 2019 regular season on the injured reserve. The former Utah quarterback suffered a broken fibula and tibia during Washington’s game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018.
After multiple surgeries and months of recovery, Smith said that his goal is to get back on the field with his teammates.
“Without a doubt,” Smith told reporters on Monday, December 30, one day after the Redskins’ season finale. “I still have dreams of getting back to where I was and getting back out there. This has been obviously a crazy ride with a lot of unforeseen turns, but without a doubt, that’s still my goal.”
Alex Smith says “without a doubt” his plan is to return to the football field pic.twitter.com/rsJnASp0wf
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 30, 2019
Smith spent the majority of the season watching his teammates play from Washington owner Dan Snyder’s press box. During a recent Redskins game, Smith was seen seated next to his former college coach Urban Meyer.
The injured QB’s gameday locale had the rumors swirling about Smith’s potential future as a member of the front-office.
“It just wasn’t safe for me to be down there,” Smith said. “I’m very appreciative of everything that they’ve given me throughout this process. A lot of it goes unnoticed. It doesn’t get put out there, for what they do for all the guys on the team, but especially me, and what’s happened over the last few years… but I have no aspirations other than getting back on the field and playing football again.”
Smith said that he is still rehabbing from the brutal injury that he suffered more than a year ago.
“Progressing. That’s probably the best way to put that at this point,” Smith said of his recovery. “Still progressing, which I’m thankful for. Haven’t hit a wall yet and still moving forward.”
In his first season with the Redskins, Smith passed for 2,180 yards with a 62.5 completion percentage. He threw 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 10 games before going out with the injury.
Smith has played in the NFL since 2005. He’s been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Redskins.
Through 166 career games, Smith has completed 62.4 percent of his throws for 34,068 yards, 193 touchdowns, and 101 interceptions.
Smith was selected out of Utah by the Niners with the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.