Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith suffered a gruesome season-ending leg fracture injury, and it's possible that the three-time Pro Bowler opts to retire after this season.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 34-year-old's "return to football is not a certainty," though the Redskins are optimistic about his recovery. Per Schefter, doctors are going with the "wait-and-see" approach as Smith recovers from the potential career-ending injury.
Though Smith has been relatively healthy throughout his career, he will be 35 years of age next year. That's truly the main concern here, considering plenty of quarterbacks go downhill once they reach their mid-30s.
Smith also relies aplenty on his mobility and running speed, so even if he returns next season, there's no guarantee that he'll be playing at such a level. Head coach Jay Gruden gave a time recovery of six-eight months for Smith, per Schefter.
After deciding to move on from Kirk Cousins (he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency), the Redskins dealt cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round draft choice to the Kansas City Chiefs for Smith's services.
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Smith went 6-4 as the starter in Washington and tossed 2,180 yards and 10 touchdowns against five interceptions. The Redskins were leading the NFC East at the start of the season, but they now share the division lead with the Dallas Cowboys at 6-5.
What This Means
The Redskins found a new starting quarterback to build around, and they gave up a hefty price for it. Obviously, they have to hope that Smith will recover smoothly and opt to resume his playing career.
Smith was a good fit in Washington, and the team has the makings to be a playoff contender. It's a shame that his promising season came to an abrupt end, but it'd be something special if he could return in 2019.
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