Seahawks Cautiously Optimistic About Quarterback’s Knee Injury

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith after injuring his knee in the third quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field in Seattle on Dec. 15. Jane Gershovich/Getty Images

Seattle Seahawks fans saw a sight no one wants to see on Dec. 15 as starting quarterback Geno Smith went down with a knee injury.

Smith injured his knee during the third quarter of Sunday’s 30–13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which could cause a greater setback in the playoff chase than the defeat at home. In his third year as the Seahawks’ starter, Smith led the team to a first-place perch in the NFC West for most of the season, but Seattle (8–6) fell into second place behind the Los Angeles Rams (8–6) due to a loss to them earlier this season.

Smith has 3,623 yards passing for 14 touchdowns versus 13 interceptions plus 231 yards rushing for two touchdowns. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald sounded optimistic that Smith’s injury may not sideline him for the season.

“I'll tell you this, this guy is probably the toughest player I’ve ever been around,” Macdonald told reporters. “It was severe enough for him not to come back in the game.”

“But right now, structurally it looks like it’s OK, but we’ve got to get it imaged,” Macdonald added.

Smith came off the field under his own power, and Macdonald said he eventually wanted to return to the game. With the division lead on the line, the Seahawks trailed the Packers 23—6 late in the third quarter and narrowed the gap early in the fourth quarter.

“He wanted to and then he was about to go back ... and then he just couldn’t go,” Macdonald said.

Seattle pulled within 10 points, 23–13, on running back Zach Charbonnet’s 24-yard rushing touchdown, but the Seahawks couldn’t get any closer. Packers quarterback Jordan Love answered with a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Romeo Doubs to seal the win.

Playing in place of Smith, backup quarterback Sam Howell couldn’t get enough offense going amid a 35.7 percent passing completion rate and an interception. Howell hadn’t thrown a pass in a regular season game since the end of last season with the Washington Commanders.

“At the end of the day, I’ve gotta be better,” Howell told reporters. “My job is to be ready to go in there and play well and help this team win, and I didn’t do that today. So I’ve just gotta be better and watch the film and learn from it.”

Losing Smith, of course, could mean more than Xs and Os for the Seahawks. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV called him the “heartbeat” of their squad.

“It’s tough,” Jones told reporters. “Geno is the heartbeat of this offense, the heartbeat of this team. He’s one of our leaders. So obviously you don’t want to see him get hurt, but we’ve got confidence in Sam. … I pray everything is OK with Geno, but we’ve gotta be ready to go whoever is at quarterback.”

Whether Smith or Howell, Seattle will need to adjust quickly with the Minnesota Vikings (11—2) around the corner in Week 17.

“I know he’ll do everything humanly possible to go play,” Macdonald said of Smith. “But I just don’t know right now.”