Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll provided a significant injury update on quarterback Geno Smith this week.
“He just tweaked his groin a little bit yesterday. He stumbled over somebody,” Carroll said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN.
Smith is currently listed as questionable for his team’s pivotal matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday due to the injury, but Carroll said Thursday that he is a game-time decision.
“We’ll see. We rested him today,” Carroll said.
If Smith is unable to go, Drew Lock would be next in line to play.
“He’s been waiting for this opportunity and looking forward to it and preparing for it,” Carroll said of Lock. “If it comes to pass, he is as ready as he can get. Excited about him getting a chance to play. He’s been really disciplined about the way he focuses every week, as that guy has to do. If it changes this week, we’ll see the benefits of all his hard work.”
In 12 starts this season, Smith has thrown for 2,918 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 64.4 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 89.1.
The 33-year-old, who played his collegiate football at West Virginia, was originally selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Oddly enough, Smith did not really blossom until his third season with the Seahawks last year when he got his first chance to start for the club after the departure of Russell Wilson.
He played in every game, throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 picks while completing a league-high 69.8 percent of his passes and registering a passer rating of 100.9. He made the Pro Bowl for his efforts and also earned the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Seattle has lost three straight games to fall to 6-6. If the season ended today, the Seahawks would not be in the playoffs.
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