In a remarkable comeback, quarterback Alex Smith returned to the football field Sunday for the first time since a life-altering leg injury in 2018.

The Washington Football Team quarterback was cleared for physical activity, activated, and practiced with the team on Sunday.

Today was a good day 👏 pic.twitter.com/2MD4C4UJpI

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 16, 2020

The 36-year-old broke his right tibia and fibula in a gruesome injury during a game against the Houston Texans in November 2018 and subsequently went through 17 surgeries. Infections complicated the injury and at one point doctors worried they may have to amputate the leg.

ESPN documented Smiths’ journey to recovery in “Project 11” which aired in May.

It’s unclear what shot he has at starting but will compete with second-year-pro Dwayne Haskins, who played in nine games and started seven last year, and backup Kyle Allen, who was acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

Coach Ron Rivera has called Smith’s recovery “inspirational” and said he’d be in the competition to start.

Smith signed a four-year contract extension in 2018 and was leading the team to a 6-3 record with hopes high that the team was on the way to a winning season. Then, on November 17 in the third quarter of a game against the Houston Texans, Smith was sacked by two players and both his fibula and tibia in his right leg broke.

Since Smith’s injury, Washington has gone 4–19. Quarterbacks Case Keenum and Colt McCoy saw action in 2019, though neither are with the team anymore.

In late July, Smith said he’d been cleared by his doctors to return to activity.

The NFL canceled preseason play so Washington will open against the Philadelphia Eagles at home on September 13 though without fans in the stands due to the ongoing pandemic.