The Washington Redskins are no strangers to franchise quarterbacks experiencing gruesome leg injuries.
Former quarterback Joe Theismann infamously experienced a career-ending broken leg injury during a Monday Night Football game after taking a hit from future Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Alex Smith experienced a similar fate, breaking two bones in his right leg during the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans, on the exact same day 33 years later.
Head coach Jay Gruden confirmed the quarterback suffered a broken tibia and fiubla -- after it was initially believed to be an ankle injury -- and would need immediate surgery.
The 34-year-old veteran went down on a sack by Houston's J.J. Watt and Kareem Jackson with 7:43 left in the third quarter.
Both Watt and Jackson seemed aware of the severity of the injury, taking knees while the quarterback remained on the ground, as did every Redskins teammate while Smith was pulled away on a cart.
Theismann, who was in attendance, also assumed the worst, tweeting that Smith's "leg is exactly like mine 33 years ago."
Alex’s leg is exactly like mine 33 yrs ago
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) November 18, 2018
Theismann told the Associated Press that he turned away when Smith was injured, claiming "it brought back vivid memories. The irony of today is just hard to believe."
"My immediate thought was that my heart went out to him. I feel so bad for him. I know the road ahead," Theismann said, adding that he sent Smith a text message of support. "We're somewhat similar in age (when the injuries happened). He's not 25 or 26 years of age. I was 35; he's 34. How long will it take to come back? What is the severity?"
"I worry less about Alex and his football career than I do Alex and wanting to be able to do the things in life he wants to do."
Smith was acquired by the Redskins in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller this past offseason. The former No. 1 overall pick threw for 2,045 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions on 193 of 301 passing in 2018.
Washington, who is currently first in the NFC East Division standings, had only one other active quarterback on its roster, backup Colt McCoy, as of Sunday evening.
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