Editions
Los 40 USA
Scores
Follow us on
Hello

Seahawks

What injury does Geno Smith have? How long will he be out for the Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks' playoff chances took a blow on Sunday with a loss to the Green Bay Packers and potentially the loss of their starting quarterback.

The Seattle Seahawks' playoff chances took a blow on Sunday with a loss to the Green Bay Packers and potentially the loss of their starting quarterback.
JANE GERSHOVICHAFP

The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, putting their record at 8-6 and bumping them down to the No. 8 in the NFC seeding, out of the current playoff picture and just on the bubble. Worse still, they may have lost their starting quarterback Geno Smith for some time.

Geno Smith’s injury and timeline to return

About halfway through the third quarter of the Seahawks game against the Packers, Geno Smith was throwing a pass on first down when Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper dove at his legs. Cooper hit the back of Smith’s legs, causing his right knee to hyperflex as his cleat got stuck in the turf.

Smith started limping off the field but eventually lie down on his back in pain. He was evaluated in the medical tent before limping off the field and exiting the game.

During the fourth quarter, it looked like Smith might return to the game. He was able to jog onto the sideline and even put his helmet back on, but the limp was still noticeable and he was eventually unable to return.

Before leaving the game, Smith had just 149 passing yards and an interception. The passing offense was shut down by the Packers defense. As for the injury, the severity is not yet known although early tests suggest that the knee is structurally intact.

“I’ll tell you this, this guy is probably the toughest player I’ve ever been around,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. “It was severe enough for him not to come back in the game. We’ll do all the tests tomorrow and kind of figure it out as we go. But right now, structurally it looks like it’s OK, but we’ve got to get it imaged and all that stuff.”

Who will replace Geno Smith?

After Smith came out, backup quarterback Sam Howell came in to replace him, which didn’t go well. He completed just five of 14 pass attempts for 24 yards and one interception and was sacked four times and pressured on over half of his dropbacks.

Who is Sam Howell?

Howell was selected by the Washington Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and played two seasons before being traded to the Seahawks this past offseason. He played just one game in his rookie season and became the Commanders' starter in 2023. In 17 games, Howell completed just 63.4% of his passes for 4,115 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions and was sacked 65 times.

It’s a tough pill to swallow if the Seahawks aren’t able to get Smith back before a challenging game next week against the Minnesota Vikings. Their chances of making the playoffs with Smith dropped to 45% after their loss on Sunday. Howell had played just one snap this season before Sunday’s game, but Macdonald says he believes in Howell’s ability to improve with more time.

“That’s why we have Sam, to come in and help us win games if he needs to,” Macdonald said. “Yeah, it’s a tough situation. He hasn’t played yet this year. We’ve got faith in Sam. Guy’s a great player. If he gets another opportunity, he’ll do a great job.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

Rules