Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith’s return from injury is a remarkable story. Joe Theismann can relate to it better than anyone else.

The 36-year old Smith returned to the football field for the first time in two years during the second quarter of Washington’s Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams to replace Kyle Allen, who suffered an injury. In November 2018, Smith suffered a devastating leg injury after being sacked during a game against the Houston Texans which could have ended his career. 

But less than two years later and Smith was back on the field. One person who couldn’t help but be moved by Smith’s comeback is former Washington quarterback Joe Theismann.

Theismann is someone who would understand the long road to recovery in Washington and the sacrifices that the veteran quarterback did to return to the field, since he experienced something similar exactly 33 years before Smith’s injury. 

On November 18, 1985, Theismann, who was then the team's quarterback, broke his leg after being sacked by New York Giants linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Henry Carson, which unfortunately ended his 12-year NFL career with the Washington Redskins.

Washington fans know: 33 years to the day, Smith went down after being sacked by Texans defensive end JJ Watt and cornerback Kareem Jackson, which also threatened to end his career. The injury was so serious that the possibility of Smith's leg being amputated was raised. But after 17 surgeries and multiple stays in the hospital over nine months and more months of recovery, Smith was back under center for Washington.

It’s a story that’s nothing short of remarkable, which inspired no less than a former Washington quarterback who had to go through a similar experience many years ago.  

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