Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was forced to make an early exit to the locker room due to an injury during the third quarter of the team’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers on “Sunday Night Football.” Smith was on the receiving end of a hard hit from a pair of Packers defenders after releasing the ball on a first-down pass attempt. Despite initially staying on the field for a bit, he eventually sought medical attention from the Seahawks’ training staff.
Although Smith managed to walk off the field under his own strength, he made his way to the blue medical tent shortly after reaching the sideline. In a subsequent broadcast, NBC captured Smith returning to the locker room as he continued to deal with the effects of the injury. The Seahawks listed Smith as questionable to rejoin the game due to a knee issue, but the veteran QB did not make a comeback. Stepping in for Smith was backup quarterback Sam Howell.
Post-game, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald informed the press that Smith’s knee would undergo further evaluation on Monday. “Structurally, it looks like it’s OK,” Macdonald stated, “but we need to conduct imaging to be certain.” The duration of Smith’s absence was uncertain at the time, with Macdonald and the team aiming to obtain answers following the scheduled imaging on Monday. Unfortunately for Smith, he did not return to the game that Sunday night.
The Seahawks initially flagged Smith as questionable to return to their “Sunday Night Football” encounter against the Packers due to the knee problem. The injury occurred when Smith was hit in the legs by a couple of Green Bay defenders. Following a pass attempt while under pressure, the Packers’ pass rush made an impact, leading to Smith’s injury.
After a brief stint in the blue medical tent, Smith headed back to the locker room. While he reappeared on the Seahawks’ sideline shortly after, NBC’s coverage displayed him grimacing and showing signs of discomfort.
With Smith sidelined, the Seahawks’ quarterback options were reduced to two. The depth chart entering Week 15 read as follows:
– Geno Smith
– Sam Howell
– Jaren Hall (emergency third QB)
Obtained in a trade with the Washington Commanders in March, Howell joined the Seahawks alongside a fourth- and a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, in exchange for the team’s third- and fifth-round picks. Howell filled in for Smith in Week 15, marking his second appearance of the season following a single snap in Week 7.
Hall, a fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the past, was signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad before the start of the season. He was elevated to the active roster ahead of the specific week in question.
Reflecting on Smith’s season stats leading up to the Week 15 game against the Packers:
– Completion rate: 324-of-466 (69.5%)
– Passing yards: 3,474
– Passing touchdowns: 14
