For a change, positive news finally came to the Washington franchise after being wrapped in a state of turmoil for a while. After suffering a major leg injury, quarterback Alex Smith defied the odds and is now planning to return to the gridiron in the upcoming season.

NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport disclosed the developments on Twitter:

During a game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018, Alex Smith suffered a spiral compound fracture to his tibia and fibula in his right leg when he was sacked by then Texans safety Kareem Jackson and defensive end J.J. Watt.

The injury was reminiscent of a similar occurrence to former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, who also broke his leg in a game 33 years prior and was eventually forced to retire shortly thereafter.

Following the initial surgery, Smith developed life-threatening illnesses which required him to undergo 17 surgeries. It included eight debridements, across four separate hospital stays over a period of nine months. Doctors had suggested that an amputation above the knee might be his only option before performing skin grafts and an operation transferring muscle from his left quadriceps to save it.

Due to the lengthy recovery, Smith was placed on the team's physically unable to perform (PUP) reserve list and missed the entire 2019 season. Despite the conditions, Smith has reaffirmed his intentions to play the game he loves sometime in the future.

In July 2020, he was finally cleared by his surgical team to resume football activities.

Alex Smith took advantage of every opportunity and has had an impressive career thus far. He is already a three-time Pro Bowler and also became the 2017 NFL passer rating leader. In his 15-year career, he amassed a total of 34,068 passing yards, scored 15 rushing touchdowns, and accumulated a passer rating of 87.3. He had productive stints with the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs as well.

The looming return of Alex Smith will hopefully serve as an inspiration for a Washington-franchise that is finally looking forward to moving on and putting their troubled past behind them.