Tag: Geno Smith

Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Reports: Seahawks seek Sam Darnold deal after trading Geno Smith

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Free agent Sam Darnold is Seattle’s preferred replacement for Geno Smith, according to reports.

The Seahawks agreed to trade Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick on Friday. They can begin talking to free agents on Monday, and reportedly have Darnold at the front of the queue of quarterback options.

Darnold, 27, resurrected his career in a Pro Bowl season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. He was 14-3 while playing on a one-year deal as the replacement for Kirk Cousins in Minnesota. He was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

The season ended with two painful performances in a loss to the Detroit Lions to close the regular season and the wild-card round defeat in Arizona against the Los Angeles Rams, who sacked Darnold nine times.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Minnesota would entertain bringing Darnold back, but the Vikings also have other options. They drafted J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in 2024 and he missed last season following knee surgery. Daniel Jones, a former first-round pick released last November by the New York Giants, spent the final two-plus months on Minnesota’s roster and could come back to compete with McCarthy.

In addition to the pending Smith trade, which can become official March 12, the Seahawks are navigating massive turnover on offense. Wide receiver Tyler Lockett was released and Seattle gave DK Metcalf permission to seek a trade.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) leaves the field following the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Reports: Seahawks trade QB Geno Smith to Raiders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Las Vegas has found its man at quarterback, while Seattle has embraced a full reset, as the Raiders have traded a 2025 third-round pick to the Seahawks in exchange for quarterback Geno Smith, NFL Network and ESPN reported Friday.

Smith, a full-time starter in Seattle the past three seasons with two Pro Bowl nods, will be reunited with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, whom the Raiders hired this offseason.

Carroll, 73, was out of coaching last year after mutually agreeing with the Seahawks to step down as head coach. He stayed on as an advisor.

Smith was Carroll’s starting quarterback his final two seasons, piloting the Seahawks to matching 9-8 records after taking over for Russell Wilson, who was traded away before the 2022 season.

That year, his first as a full-time starter in Seattle, was Smith’s most successful, as he threw for 4,282 yards and a career-high 30 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions, leading the Seahawks to the playoffs.

The follow-up year netted fewer passing yards (3,624) and touchdowns (20) as Smith missed two games to injury. Last year, under new coach Mike Macdonald, Smith rebounded to throw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns (albeit with 15 interceptions) while leading Seattle to a 10-7 record.

Smith was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round in 2013 after a highly productive college career at West Virginia. He started 29 games over his first two seasons before being relegated to the bench, bouncing to the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers before landing in Seattle in 2019.

Now, much like Carroll, he figures to be a steadying influence for a franchise that has struggled to find success with just two winning seasons over the past 22 years.

Las Vegas was 4-13 under former head coach Antonio Pierce last season. Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder platooned at quarterback.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) sits on the bench after an injury during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Seahawks: QB Geno Smith’s knee looks OK after hit

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith’s knee looks like it’s “structurally” OK after a low hit and awkward landing in Sunday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Smith’s status for Week 16 is unclear until additional testing takes place.

Smith left in the third quarter of Seattle’s 30-13 loss to the Packers and did not return.

“It was severe enough for him not to come back in the game. We’ll do all the tests tomorrow 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,” Macdonald said after the game.

Smith was hit in the right leg by Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper on a first down throw, knocking Smith back and causing his knee to hyperextend. No penalty was assessed because both of Smith’s feet were in the air at the point of contact, according to a rules analyst.

Smith was able to limp off the field. He was replaced by Sam Howell, who went 5-for-14 for 24 yards and an interception.

Smith was 15 of 19 for 149 yards and an interception before leaving. Smith is completing 69.9 percent of his passes for 3,623 yards and 14 touchdowns against 13 INTs on the season.

The loss dropped Seattle out of a playoff spot at 8-6 with three games remaining, including one against now NFC West division leader Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. The Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) next week.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts after the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Seahawks restructure QB Geno Smith’s contract

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The Seattle Seahawks created $4.8 million in salary cap space by restructuring quarterback Geno Smith’s contract, ESPN reported Thursday.

The Seahawks on Feb. 16 guaranteed Smith’s $12.7 million salary for next season but have since converted a $9.6 million roster bonus due in mid-March into a signing bonus to be spread out over the next two seasons.

His cap hit in 2024 went from $31.2 million to $26.4 million — the 15th-highest in the league among quarterbacks — and the 2025 cap hit increased to $38.5 million, ESPN reported.

Smith, 33, had signed a three-year contract extension in March 2023.

The NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022, Smith has been steady at the position over the past two seasons for the Seahawks since replacing Russell Wilson as the starter. A Pro Bowl selection in both 2022 and 2023, he threw for 3,624 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Seahawks quarantee 2024 salary of QB Geno Smith

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The Seattle Seahawks are keeping quarterback Geno Smith on the roster this week, guaranteeing his $12.7 million salary, ESPN reported Thursday.

The team had until Friday to release him to save the money.

He also has a roster bonus of $9.6 million that is due on March 17.

The immediate move either buys the Seahawks time to trade Smith or gives new head coach Mike Macdonald and recently hired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb an opportunity to chart a path at the QB position.

Backup quarterback Drew Lock will become an unrestricted free agent next month.

With the high cost of starting quarterbacks, Smith could be an affordable option for a team looking for a quarterback, or for the Seahawks as they build their 2024 roster.

Smith, 33, has been steady at the position over the past two seasons for the Seahawks since replacing Russell Wilson as the starter. A Pro Bowl selection in both 2022 and 2023, Smith threw for 3,624 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

The Seahawks have the No. 16 overall selection in the upcoming NFL draft but don’t have a pick in the second round. That’s where the latest mock drafts from 247Sports and The Athletic project quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be selected. He ran Grubb’s offense at Washington, where Grubb was the offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and quarterback Drew Lock (2) take the field before playing against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Carroll shakes off Seahawks QB controversy: ‘Geno is our starter’

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So, Seattle, Drew or Geno?

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll shot down any suggestion of a quarterback controversy in the afterglow of Drew Lock’s last-minute, game-winning-TD that lifted Seattle to 7-7 to remain in the wildcard hunt on Monday night.

Lock dropped a deep ball on the fingertips of rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left to give Seattle a 20-17 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Subbing for injured starter Geno Smith, Lock piloted the Seahawks — starting at their own 8 with 1:52 left in the game — on only their third TD drive of 80 yards or more this season to snap a four-game losing streak.

But Carroll said Smith, out the past two games with a groin injury, is due back Sunday at Tennessee in another critical spot.

“Geno is our starter,” Carroll said of how he’d handle the QB spot against the Titans (5-9).

Carroll said Smith went through a rigorous pregame workout and was ready to start. But Carroll and general manager John Schneider decided to play it safe and start Lock.

“It was hard as can be on Geno (to tell him), ‘We will go with the other player, see if we can make it to next week,’” Carroll said.

Smith has thrown for 2,918 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while going 6-6 in his starts. Lock is 1-1 as the starter, completing 48 of 76 passes for 543 yards with three TDs and three picks.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks QB Geno Smith (groin) questionable for game vs. Eagles

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The Seattle Seahawks on Saturday listed quarterback Geno Smith as questionable for Monday’s home game against the Philadelphia Eagles due to a groin injury.

Smith was a limited participant in practice earlier this week and a full participant Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Seahawks (6-7) are hoping he will be available against the Eagles (10-3). Seattle has lost four straight games and is fighting to stay in contention for a playoff berth.

Smith’s injury occurred in practice on Dec. 7, and he missed the start last Sunday against the host San Francisco 49ers.

“He just tweaked his groin a little bit,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said that week. “Just kind of stumbled over somebody.”

The 49ers won 28-16, as Drew Lock started for the Seahawks and completed 22 of 31 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Smith has thrown for 2,918 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games this year.

Seattle also lists safety Jamal Adams (knee), cornerback Devon Witherspoon (hip), linebacker Nick Bellore (knee) and wide receiver Dee Eskridge (ribs) as questionable.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks QB Geno Smith out with groin injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was listed as inactive for Sunday’s road game against the San Francisco 49ers with a groin injury.

Drew Lock is in line to get his first start with the Seahawks after appearing in two games with the team this season.

Smith’s injury occurred in practice this past week.

“He just tweaked his groin a little bit (Thursday),” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “Just kind of stumbled over somebody.”

Smith was already dealing with a triceps injury on his throwing arm that occurred Nov. 19 in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He has yet to miss a start since winning the job in training camp before the 2022 season.

Smith has thrown for 2,918 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games this year.

The Seahawks (6-6) have lost three straight games, including 31-13 at home against the 49ers (9-3) on Thanksgiving. Seattle enters the weekend in a tie with the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Rams for the final two NFC wild-card spots.

Seattle running backs Kenneth Walker III (oblique) and Zach Charbonnet (knee) both are active after they were ruled questionable.

–Field Level Media