Smith developed necrotizing fasciitis , a flesh eating disease, that resulted in Sepsis. This required multiple surgeries to try and save his leg. Doctors recommended that they amputate his right leg, just above the knee, to save his life. However, his doctors decided to perform skin grafts and transfer muscle from his left quad to save his leg.
After recovering for almost a year and a half, Alex Smith was cleared to participate in football activities again in 2020. In week 5, QB Kyle Allen suffered an arm injury midway through the game, and Alex Smith got the green light to go out and play. The Washington Football Team lost to the LA Rams 30-10 but that wasn’t the storyline of the game. Alex Smith played in an NFL game after many thought his career was over.