Former NFL Quarterback Reveals Gruesome Photo of Injured Leg

Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith considers himself "very much lucky to be alive" after suffering a compound leg fracture on the field in November 2018 — and later recovering from complications related to a serious infection in the leg.

Nearly six years later, Smith, who completed a miraculous NFL comeback with the Washington Commanders in 2020, seems to be enjoying life to the best of his abilities.

On Saturday, August 3, the former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback posted a gruesome-looking photo of his repaired right leg on his Instagram Stories. The reposted image has been viewed over 2.5 million times on one prominent NFL aggregator account.

Smith took the photo while competing during the 2024 Pan-Mass Challenge , a two-day cycling event that raises money for cancer research and treatment.

Just days after the initial 2018 surgery to repair the fractures in Smith's leg, Dr. Robin West, the Commanders' team physician, made it clear things had taken a turn for the worse.

"Our first priority is we're going to save his life," West said, via a first-person account from Smith's wife to ESPN . "And then we're going to do our best to save his leg. And anything beyond that is a miracle."

After staving off amputation and possible death, Smith's story has turned to an inspirational one.