Redskins quarterback Alex Smith was spotted in public Monday in the owner’s suite at the Wizards game.

He also visited the locker room.

Alex Smith made an appearance in the Wizards locker room. pic.twitter.com/eUDdHfgg5P — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 21, 2019

This brought lots of questions about the “crazy brace” or contraption on his leg.


Smith’s appearance provided confirmation he has an external fixator on his leg, which serves to hold the bones in place since the hardware from his initial surgery had to be removed, as we initially discussed six weeks ago.

When Smith was discharged from the hospital, this is what we expected to be hidden under the Redskins blanket draped over his legs.

Great to see #AlexSmith is home.

Under that blanket may be an external fixture which means more surgery to come. https://t.co/LrmLHLg3sO https://t.co/MZRMD1T6wZ — David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) December 16, 2018

Specifically, Smith has a ring external fixator called an Ilizarov device on his right lower leg. The device has sequential rings outside that are connected to each other, and there are spoke-like wires that pierce through his leg and are connected to the rings. The origination of this type of external fixator was in rural Russia and, in fact, in the early days actual bicycle spokes were, used as that was what was available.


This confirms some of the fears that Smith has suffered significant complications. The initial thought was that he would be able to return for the start of next season. However, with the infection and multiple surgeries, including the now-confirmed report of his initial hardware implants being removed, this lengthens the recovery.

The good news is he should not lose his leg.

The bad news is he likely has several surgeries and procedures still to come, including the ultimate removal of his ring external fixator. At this point, there is no way he will be ready for the start of the coming season. In fact, he may never be able to play.

The next thing to watch for are reports of a free flap graft.


This is where there is exposed bone from the debridement of infected tissue and where doctors take a muscle from another part of his body and reconnect it to the leg area to cover the exposed area where infected tissue was removed.

If this happens (or has happened), that would make it hard for Smith to return to football at all.

The Redskins had another star player get an infection after surgery this year. Derrius Guice had ACL surgery with Redskins team physician Dr. James Andrews, but that procedure would have been in Pensacola, Florida, and should have no relation to these procedures performed by different doctors in a different location.

The initial reports on Smith were that the bone stuck through the skin and the urgent surgery was to prevent infection. The infection, even though Smith should be over that by now, is what leads to this cascade of further procedures and issues.


The hope is Smith can continue to recover and return to football if he chooses. But his team will need to find a new starting quarterback for the beginning of 2019 and likely beyond.