Horrific: 33 Years to the Day, Theismann Witnesses Another QB Suffer Gruesome Leg Break
History repeated itself Sunday in Washington in a most painful way.
On Nov. 18, 1985, Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in NFL history when his leg was broken while being tackled by Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
The injury, suffered in a Monday night game with a huge national TV audience, is something anyone who was watching the game will never forget seeing.
(Note: Graphic content warning)
Sunday, exactly 33 years to the day after Theismann’s injury, Redskins quarterback Alex Smith suffered a broken leg after being sacked by Houston’s Kareem Jackson and J.J. Watt.
This one’s just as nasty to look at as Theismann’s, so the squeamish are advised to look away.
(Note: Graphic content warning)
Smith broke both the tibia and the fibula in his right leg during the third quarter of Washington’s 23-21 loss to the Houston Texans. Of note, that’s the same final score as the game in which Theismann broke his leg.
Theismann was at the game, and his thoughts reflected the nature of the injury.
“It was just an eerie moment,” Theismann said. “It was surreal. You see him go down in a pile and then there’s a shot that showed his leg bent and I turned away right after that. I feel so bad for him.”
While it would be natural for anyone to turn away, it was especially graphic for Theismann to see it, and he was more than aware of the historical significance when he took to Twitter.
Alex’s leg is exactly like mine 33 yrs ago
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) November 18, 2018
If there is a bright side to all this, it’s that sports medicine has advanced quite a bit since Theismann’s day, a fact not lost on the legend.
“The memory is vivid,” Theismann said. “It’s like all of the senses, all of the people, all of the memories, everything that happened in that instance all comes back to me. … If there is a positive aspect, it’s that so much of medicine has changed.”
Smith underwent surgery just hours after the injury. Recovery time for this type of injury is four to six months.
Meanwhile, tight end Vernon Davis had the ultimate front row seat from the sideline, and watching the play evoked a visceral reaction from him.
“I was watching the entire play,” he said. “I saw him go down, and the way he went down I balled my fists up because it looked brutal. Then when he took his helmet off it was, ‘Aaaahhh.’ One of those plays. Have to keep pushing — keep him in our prayers and take him with us out there on the field.”
Smith wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire this season — he threw for just 2,180 yards with ten touchdowns and five interceptions — but he was playing a competent game-manager’s role on a squad that, thanks to the complete collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles, is in first place in the NFC East at 6-4.
Coach Jay Gruden added his thoughts on losing his field general.
“When you have an injury like that, it’s more heartbreaking than it is physical,” Gruden said. “Just breaks your heart because this is what he loves to do. He loves to lead this team, he loves to be with his guys and now the season is over, and he has a long way back.”
The season is not over for Washington, however, and the Redskins and backup quarterback Colt McCoy must regroup if they’re going to make the playoffs.
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