2 min read • September 10, 2020
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Alex Smith - QB
Alex Smith is lucky his leg was not amputated after suffering a traumatic leg break in 2018 . After immediate aggressive reconstructive surgery on his open (compound) tibia/fibula fracture, he had a horrific infection and required nearly 20 surgeries. The good news is he is back and cleared by his team of surgeons. However, he has not been cleared by the Redskins doctors for full football activities and is on the active PUP list. Smith has been an inspiration and everyone hopes he can come back. Given the loss of muscle from infection and the free, local soft tissue flaps needed to save his leg, the reality is there is no way he will return to 100%. The veteran still brings a lot to the table and even if he is less mobile than a mid 20s Alex Smith, this version can use his intelligence and knowledge of the game to his advantage. He has not played since 2018, but was on pace for a good first season with Washington, throwing for 2,180 yards, 10 touchdowns and five picks with a 62.5% completion rate. Smith was elected to the Pro Bowl the two years previous with Kansas City, and at 36, is still younger than many starting quarterbacks in this league.
Bryce Love - RB
Love is still not back to form. Analyzing a pre-draft video on Love last year, We predicted a medical redshirt and indeed he did not play. A new video clip strengthens my suspicions that he is still not back to the college sensation he was at Stanford. He is slow off the line of scrimmage, has a hitch in his stride on the right side, makes short choppy steps to compensate for not sticking that right leg in the ground and never demonstrates full motion of his right knee. Unfortunately for him, he is doubtful to be the go to guy with Derrius Guice gone. This gives future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson the inside track to open the year as the lead dog. Washington added Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic in the offseason, though neither inspires much confidence. Rookie running back Antonio Gibson was taken out of Memphis in this year’s draft, and is a good pass catcher, where Peterson has become almost a non-factor. Love has an uphill battle to gain any kind of playing time. Fans are used to ACL recovery going smoothly and Peterson’s medical marvel, nine-month return to then rush for over 2,000 yards in 2012 set the standard. However, when return is not smooth, which is the case for Love having missed all of last season, that road often remains rocky. Love still could return to his collegiate star form but that is not likely to happen this season.
IR/Opt-Out List
WR Jordan Veasy
WR Emanuel Hall
WR Kelvin Harmon
DT Yan Bee
DT Caleb Brantley
LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
LB Reuben Foster
CB Simeon Thomas
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