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Alex Smith to have surgery after breaking tibia, fibula vs. Texans

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith will have immediate surgery for a broken tibia and fibula suffered in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans, head coach Jay Gruden announced, according to John Keim of ESPN.

Smith was carted off in the third quarter after suffering the injury while being sacked by Texans safety Kareem Jackson. He was replaced under center by backup quarterback Colt McCoy who threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Reed on his second attempt of the game.

For Redskins fans, the injury may seem awfully similar to that which ended the career of former-MVP quarterback Joe Theismann in 1985, exactly 33 years to the day of Smith's Sunday injury.

Theismann never played again after the hit he took from New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

Smith is in his first season with the Redskins after being acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs last January. He's completed 64.1 percent of his pass attempts for 2,045 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He's added 37 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown over nine games.

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