Seattle Seahawks Have 'No Idea' If Geno Smith Will Play vs. San Francisco 49ers

While Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith did return from his elbow injury in the 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, coach Pete Carroll didn't know if he'd have his signal-caller available for Thursday's contest against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Seattle Seahawks fell to 6-4 on Sunday with the heartbreaking 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. In a game where, despite being in control for much of the contest, the temporary loss of starting quarterback Geno Smith hurt the Seahawks in the fourth quarter. 

However, despite the return of Smith for the Seahawks final possession, there is still a question about his availability for Seattle's next game on Thursday at home versus the San Francisco 49ers. 

"I don't have any idea. I have no idea, sorry," Carroll said about whether Smith could play on Thursday.

Smith exited Sunday's game with 25 seconds left in the third quarter, with Seattle clinging to a 16-7 lead, and later returned with the Seahawks trailing by a point. 

Nov 19, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) passes against the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter at SoFi Stadium.   / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Any questions of whether the injury that occurred following a big hit from Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald would affect his performance were quickly answered as Smith fired in a 13-yard completion to Tyler Lockett. 

Then, after a two-yard completion to running back Zach Charbonnet, Smith went long with a 21-yard pass to DK Metcalf, his final completion of the drive before a run play and quarterback spike proceeded the attempted game-winning kick from Jason Meyers.

"He gave us a chance to kick the ball and win it. A long field goal for sure, you couldn't have a better guy to kick that one," Carroll said.

The Seahawks' loss on Sunday hurts not only because it was a game that they could've won but also for the fact that Thursday's opponent, the Niners, gained ground in the race for the NFC West with a 27-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that advanced them to 7-3.

However, if the Seahawks can beat their divisional opponents, they can compensate for the disappointing loss to the Rams. 

Yet beating San Francisco could become harder if the Seahawks are without Smith. Drew Lock, Smith's replacement on Sunday, would be in line to start in his place again, even his performance versus the Rams didn't leave room for much optimism.

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Lock, the former first-round pick out of Missouri, completed just two of his six passes for three yards with an interception as the Seahawks' offense sputtered to the tune of three straight three-and-outs without Smith under center. 

“On Thursday games, you’re worried about everybody coming back,” Carroll said. “Every guy on your team, it’s hard to do. It’s one of the great challenges in the league. So, we’ll find our way. We have a way to kind of rejuvenate and get rolling. They’ve got to do the same thing.