Matt Calkins: Why Geno Smith's injury made it clear that the Seahawks need him

Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times on Dec 16, 2024

Published in Football

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SEATTLE — The thought had crossed my mind, as it may have yours at some point this season. Maybe it was after his second interception vs. the Niners in Week 6, or his third pick vs. the Rams in Week 9, when the Seahawks dropped their fifth game in six tries.

Seattle quarterback Geno Smith has struggled at times this season, particularly with poor decision-making near the goal line. His four interceptions in the end zone are tied for the most in the NFL this season. So back to that thought …

Might it be worth trying Sam Howell?

Granted, this question had been on pause for the past several weeks, as the Seahawks won four in a row after their bye. And during that stretch Geno was a gem, whether it was completing 24 of his 30 passes in a December win vs. Arizona or scrambling for the game-winning touchdown run against the Niners the month before.

But on Sunday night he injured his right knee after taking a hit in the third quarter. Then we got the answer to whether it was ever worth giving Howell a shot.

It was an emphatic no.

The backup quarterback finished 5-of-14 passing for 24 yards and an interception in Seattle’s 30-13 loss to the Packers (10-4). The Seahawks trailed 20-3 when Howell took his first snap, so it was unlikely they were going to mount a comeback with Smith in there (although he led the NFL in fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives last season).

But one thing Sunday night did do is confirm Smith’s value to the 8-6 Seahawks. They need him … which is why that injury felt so frightening.

On his radio show Monday morning, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Smith could play Sunday vs. Minnesota as everything looks OK “structurally.” Geno, after all, was able to walk off the field and into the locker room, and he returned to the sideline later in the game.

But being able to walk is a lot different that being able to plant or scramble in the NFL. And with the Rams (8-6) now tied atop the division with the Seahawks, and Seattle set to take on the 11-2 Vikings, this team can’t afford to be without its most valuable player behind center. That loss to Green Bay made clear how much Smith matters. Playing without him doesn’t seem viable.

Asked about their starting quarterback after the game, multiple Seahawks were quick to praise No. 7.

“Geno is the heartbeat of this offense, heartbeat of this team, and he’s one of our leaders,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said.

“Geno is kind of the heart of this thing,” safety Julian Love added. “I hope he’s OK.”

Smith has certainly had his shortcomings this season, and he’ll be the first to admit that. His 13 interceptions are the third-most in the NFL, and that’s against just 14 touchdown passes.

But Seattle’s offense has relied on him. His 488 attempts are the fourth-most in the NFL, and he has completed 69.9 percent of those throws en route to compiling 3,623 yards — the third-most in the league. He’s broken off a decent number of runs as well, most notably the aforementioned scramble vs. the Niners that won Seattle the game.

Has Smith ever rekindled the magic he displayed in the first half of the 2022 season, when he won NFC Offensive Player of the month and NFL Comeback Player of the Year? No. But has he been more integral than other player in lifting the Seahawks two games above .500 this season? Firm yes.

The adage of not knowing what you have till it’s gone generally rings true. No different in this case. The Seahawks still control their own destiny, as they have a date with the Rams in Los Angeles in the final week of the season, but if those two teams finish with the same record by year’s end, the Rams would get the playoff nod over Seattle. Perhaps that’s why models have the Seahawks’ chances to make the playoffs under 40 percent right now.

There is no room for error — meaning Smith playing, and playing well is necessary.

In Howell’s defense, he was launched into an unenviable situation with his team down 17 points midway through the third quarter. However, given that the Seahawks needed to throw the ball in that spot to catch up, it was also a chance for him to prove his worth.

He didn’t. He did prove Geno’s, though. Smith makes this team go. If you doubted that before, don’t doubt it again.

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