The Seattle Seahawks had a tough start to Sunday night’s Week 15 showdown against the Green Bay Packers, falling behind 20-3 before halftime and losing 30-13. They also lost their starting quarterback in the second half, with Geno Smith leaving midway through the third quarter with a knee injury.
On Monday, head coach Mike McDonald told reporters that tests on Smith’s knee revealed positive news and he is optimistic Smith could suit up for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in Seattle. He said it was accurate.
“We’re lucky,” McDonald said via the Seahawks’ official website. “There are a lot of positive and optimistic signs from the test results. Geno is a beast. He trained here in the morning and got through it. I know he’s still feeling it, but this guy He’s tough as nails. We hope to see him practice this week and are optimistic that he’ll be game ready.”
The injury occurred when the 34-year-old Smith backpedaled in the pocket on a first down with 7:12 left in the third quarter, resulting in an incomplete throw under pressure from Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. It happened on occasion. However, Cooper dove toward the quarterback’s legs and ended up falling onto Smith’s lower right leg. Although the contact was legal, Smith became visibly frustrated and fell to the ground for further evaluation.
Smith then limped to the sideline, and backup Sam Howell took over under center for Seattle. Howell completed a drive that led the Seahawks to a field goal, and Smith walked to the locker room for further treatment as the clock ticked down to six minutes in the third quarter, and his return was ruled questionable.
“It was serious enough (to prevent a return),” McDonald told reporters after the game. “We’re going to do more tests on him. … He seems to be structurally OK, but we have to get images.” With that in mind… (as for his availability) right now. I don’t know where.”
Smith’s participation in practice this week will be interesting to watch, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury.
