SEATTLE — A concerning injury cut short quarterback Geno Smith’s outing and may have adversely impacted the Seattle Seahawks’ chances for a postseason berth. Smith exited the field during the Seahawks’ 30-13 loss against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night after suffering a right knee injury. He was replaced by Sam Howell midway through the third quarter, effectively derailing Seattle’s effort to mount a comeback and dimming their hopes of clinching the NFC West title. The Seahawks now share the top spot in the division with the Los Angeles Rams, who have already bested the Seahawks earlier this season and will host them for the season finale.
Smith is scheduled to undergo scans to assess the severity of his injury. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV voiced his frustration over the situation, stating, “It’s tough. Geno’s the heartbeat of this offense, the heartbeat of this team and one of our leaders. So, obviously, you don’t want to see him get hurt. But we’ve got confidence in Sam, confidence in the guys behind him. So, I pray everything is OK with Geno. But we’ve got to be ready to go.”
The injury occurred when linebacker Edgerrin Cooper made a low tackle, rolling over Smith’s leg. Initially, Smith attempted to walk off the field but fell before making it to the sidelines, visibly distressed as he hurled his helmet. Soon after, he walked to the locker room with assistance from trainers. Seattle’s head coach, Mike Macdonald, noted that initial evaluations did not show any structural damage to Smith’s knee. Afterward, Smith returned to the sideline with an ice pack secured by a bandage, and Macdonald mentioned that the coaching staff considered bringing Smith back into the game until a late turnover sealed the team’s fate.
Howell, who was traded to Seattle from Washington in the offseason, stepped in and managed to complete 5 of 14 passes for a meager 24 yards, along with an interception. However, he did lead one touchdown drive during his time on the field. Prior to his injury, Smith ranked second in the league in attempts, completions, and passing yards, and was well on his way to surpassing all the franchise’s single-season records established the previous year.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed his admiration for Smith, stating, “I’ve got a lot of respect for Geno, and just watching him through his career how he’s reinvented himself. And he’s playing really good football — I mean, you’re not the second-ranked passing leader in this game for no reason.”
Before his exit, Smith had a challenging night, throwing his fourth interception in the end zone this season, tying him with Jameis Winston of the Browns for the most in the NFL. On the night, Smith completed 15 of 19 passes for 149 yards with the interception, leaving Seattle in a 20-6 deficit when he had to leave the game.
Looking ahead, Howell stated he is ready to step up if needed when the Seahawks face the Minnesota Vikings at home next Sunday. “I prepare every week like I’m going to start,” Howell said. “But if I am playing, just getting those reps in practice will be important, and getting the whole week to get ready to go will be a big thing, and I’ve got to make sure I’m doing the right things to prepare myself for Sunday.”
