Geno Smith’s status for Thursday’s NFC West showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers remains uncertain.
The quarterback suffered a right elbow injury late in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Smith was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice after Seattle listed him as not practicing on Monday’s estimated injury report.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks are optimistic Smith will start on Thanksgiving.
From The Insiders on #NFLPlus: There is optimism that #Seahawks QB Geno Smith can play on Thursday, but how much he can throw during today’s practice will be telling. pic.twitter.com/ZNm48yj5RN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 22, 2023
Smith left Sunday’s game near the end of the third quarter but returned for the final drive. During his Monday radio show, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he “would think” Smith starts Thursday.
“It was a good sign that he could get back in and throw,” Carroll said of Smith returning to the Week 11 game. “He’s going to be more sore today. We’ll see how he responds the next couple of days, but it was a good sign that he was functional and could throw the football all right. So it was a good job by him getting back out there.”
The reigning Comeback Player of the Year hasn’t quite matched last season’s breakout success in 2023. Smith’s quarterback rating has dropped from 100.9 to 89.7, and he’s tossed 12 touchdowns in 10 games.
The 33-year-old nevertheless has the Seahawks in line for another playoff berth. They have a two-game cushion for a wild-card spot and could tie San Francisco atop the NFC West with a victory Thursday.
Per Rapoport, Smith threw “very little” during Tuesday’s practice. He’ll test his elbow more on Wednesday before the Seahawks make an official decision.
The monumental Thanksgiving showdown starts at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.