Seahawks QB Geno Smith injures knee in loss to Packers

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks’ playoff hopes were dealt at least one significant blow Sunday night with their loss to the Green Bay Packers — and perhaps another depending on the severity of Geno Smith’s knee injury.

The veteran quarterback went down midway through the third quarter and did not return after taking a low hit from linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Smith’s knee appears to be structurally intact, but his status for next Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings is up in the air.

“I’ll tell you, this guy is probably the toughest player I’ve ever been around,” Macdonald said after the Seahawks’ 30-13 loss. “It was serious enough that he didn’t come back into the game. We’ll do all the tests tomorrow and figure it out as we go. But right now, structurally, it looks like it’s OK, but we have to to get it pictured and all that.”

When Smith threw an incomplete pass on first down, a diving Cooper hit the back of Smith’s right leg, causing his knee to hyperflex as his cleat became lodged in the turf. Smith was visibly angry after the tackle, which did not draw a penalty. He began to limp off the field before stopping to lay on his back in obvious pain. He was examined in the medical tent and then limped into the tunnel.

Cooper said he believed the hit was “100 percent” clean.

“He just said I was diving at his ankles, but I was just trying to get him down,” Cooper said. “That’s it, it’s as simple as that.”

Smith jogged back to the sideline in the fourth quarter with a heavy limp and at one point appeared ready to return to the game, putting on his helmet while standing near the edge of the sideline.

“He wanted it and then he was going back,” Macdonald said. “… And then he just couldn’t go.”

Sam Howell struggled in relief of Smith, completing just 5 of 14 attempts for 24 yards and an interception. He was sacked four times and pressured on 53% of his dropbacks.

“It wasn’t good enough to win,” Macdonald said of Howell’s performance in his first extended action of the season. “I know he’s disappointed. It just didn’t feel like we got the ball out on time and then it wasn’t complemented by our pass protection. I know we gave up a lot of sacks and they did a good job. They covered the routes and rushed the pass and it was a complementary play on their defense.”

Howell, acquired in an offseason trade with the Washington Commanders after starting 17 games last season, had played just one snap in 2024 before Sunday night. He capped a field goal drive after taking over for Smith that trimmed Green Bay’s lead to 20-6, and he led another touchdown drive to help Seattle pull within 10 points in the fourth quarter. But Nowell’s other five drives ended with four punts and an interception to Cooper before Seattle conceded defeat and ran out the clock in the final seconds.

“I think at the end of the day I’ve got to get better,” Howell said. “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 got to get better, watch the film, learn from it.”

The Seahawks also lost center Olu Oluwatimi in the first half to what Macdonald described as a knee and quad injury. He said he was not sure of the seriousness other than that it was enough to prevent Oluwatimi from returning. Seattle allowed seven sacks and 12 total QB hits, a week after allowing zero sacks and just two QB hits in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

For his part, Howell said he needed to get rid of the ball faster.

“At the end of the day, sacks are a quarterback stat,” he said. “I’ve got to hit the check-downs a little quicker and just get the ball out of my hand before they get to me.”

Before Smith went down, he completed 15 of 19 attempts for 149 yards and an interception, his 13th of the season. Smith was picked off in the end zone while throwing off his back foot under pressure on third down, with Seattle already in short field goal range.

According to ESPN Research, it was Smith’s fourth red zone interception this season (most in the NFL) and fourth interception on a punt in the end zone (tied for most in the NFL).

“I haven’t spoken to him about the game, but again, our whole team didn’t play well enough to win,” Macdonald said. “I’m a part of it, Geno is a part of it, and we’ve got to learn from it and keep moving forward.”

The Seahawks (8-6) had won four straight heading into Sunday night in first place in the NFC West. But their loss to Green Bay and the Rams’ win Thursday night move those teams into a tie atop the division, with Los Angeles owning a head-to-head win. LA and Seattle play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California in Week 18.

The Seahawks’ loss also dropped them out of the current playoff picture, with the Commanders one game ahead of the third and final wild-card spot. Washington also has two more conference wins in the event of a tiebreaker.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Seahawks’ chances of making the playoffs were set to drop to 45% with a loss Sunday night, not accounting for Smith’s injury and the possibility that Howell would now have to take over.

“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 have faith in Sam. Guy is a great player. If he gets another chance, he’ll do a great job.”

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.