An unfortunate hit ended quarterback Geno Smith’s night and could have serious consequences for the Seahawks’ playoff chances.
Smith left Seattle’s 30-13 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night after injuring his right knee. He was replaced by Sam Howell midway through the third quarter. The injury hurt the Seahawks’ attempt to come back and seriously affected their hopes for an NFC West title.
They are now tied for first in the division with the Los Angeles Rams, who had already beaten the Seahawks earlier this season and will host them for their final game of the season.
Smith will have scans done on Monday to find out the full extent of the injury.
“It’s tough,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “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.”
Smith was injured by a low hit from linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who rolled over Smith’s leg. Smith tried to walk off the field but went down again. He got up and limped to the sideline, where he threw his helmet. A short time later, he walked to the locker room with trainers.
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said it didn’t look like there was any serious damage to Smith’s right knee. Smith later returned to the sideline with an ice pack held in place by a bandage. Macdonald said the team thought about letting him return to the game, but a late turnover made it clear the game was out of reach.
Howell, who was acquired in a trade with Washington in the offseason, completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards with one interception. He led one touchdown drive.
Smith entered the game ranking second in the NFL in attempts, completions, and passing yards. He was on pace to break all of Seattle’s single-season passing records, which he set last year.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Geno, and just watching him through his career how he’s reinvented himself,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And he’s playing really good football — I mean, you’re not the second-ranked passing leader in this game for no reason.”
Before getting hurt, Smith struggled. He threw his fourth end-zone interception of the season, tying Jameis Winston of the Browns for the most in the league, when Carrington Valentine intercepted him late in the first quarter. Smith completed 15 of 19 passes for 149 yards and the interception, and Seattle was down 20-6 when he left the game.
Howell said he would be ready to play if needed when the Seahawks face the Minnesota Vikings 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 just 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.”
