Report: Alex Smith appears to be coming along

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is coming along, according to Les Carpenter of The Washington Post. Carpenter said Monday that Smith, who apparently has had nearly 20 surgeries since suffering his gruesome, compound leg fracture in 2018 during the Redskins’ Week 11 game against the Houston Texans, is “moving easily, though not quickly” at the Redskins practice facility.

“He’s working diligently on the road to rehab and trying to get himself back to 100 percent,” said Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan, per The Washington Post. “I have never seen anything like the effort he’s pouring into his rehab. It’s so impressive. … He’s got the ultimate respect of all of us.

“As a competitor, wanting to get back on the field again and wanting to play again after what he’s gone through, the trauma that he’s gone through, it speaks volumes for his passion and for his will.”

Back in June, Smith told FOX5 DC that he was still planning on returning to play despite such a long rehab process. Smith began throwing in the summer and told the network that one of the challenges ahead was “learning to run again.” He had his external fixator removed in mid-July.

The latest update from The Washington Post sounds like he is making progress.

“I’ve never seen a player with that type of will — he wills himself to do things, and he’s a great example for players and for people in general to emulate and to follow,” added Callahan. “I’ve got more respect for Alex than you can even imagine.”

Smith was the Chiefs’ starting quarterback from 2013-17, leading the Chiefs to a 50-26 regular-season record, throwing 102 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. Smith helped to turn the franchise around and then mentored current starter Patrick Mahomes during the 2017 season.