Geno Smith injury: Seahawks quarterback leaves game against Packers

The Seattle Seahawks are currently fighting for the NFC West crown and a trip to the playoffs and they may need to do it without their starting quarterback. Geno Smith has left their Week 15 game against the Green Bay Packers with a knee injury.

The Seahawks turn to Sam Howell as their new quarterback.

Smith was in immediate pain but walked to the sideline under his own power after a low hit by the Packers. It appeared his cleat got stuck in the turf as he was being hit, flexing his knee. He eventually walked to the locker room after being evaluated in the blue medical tent. NBC reported he was heading to the X-ray room at the facility and he was obviously frustrated by the situation. On the ensuing drive, Smith hobbled back out to the sideline in obvious pain but still in uniform and did not reenter the game.

After the game, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Smith’s knee was structurally intact, meaning they didn’t think he tore any ligaments.

“I’ll tell you this, this guy is probably the toughest player I’ve ever been around,” Macdonald said after the game. “It was severe enough for him not to come back in the game. We’ll do all the tests [Monday] 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.”

Howell was the starter for the Washington Commanders in 2023 but was traded to Seattle in the offseason following the change at general manager and coach in D.C. He was 4-13 as a starter, coming in just shy of 4000 passing yards with 21 touchdowns and an identical 21 interceptions.

Smith was averaging 267.5 yards per game entering Week 15, the highest of his 11-year career. He had 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions before the game and had one end-zone interception in this contest.