Geno Smith was wholesome sufficient to decorate for Seattle’s win this previous Monday, however he didn’t get the beginning. After consecutive video games with Drew Lock below heart, Smith is on observe to return to the sphere.
Head coach Pete Carroll indicated after the Seahawks’ win in opposition to the Eagles that Smith was anticipated to get the beginning in Week 16 (h/t Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). To little shock, the veteran is now off Seattle’s damage report altogether, placing him on observe to re-take the highest spot on the QB depth chart to shut out the season whereas the staff pushes for a wild-card spot.
The Seahawks’ probabilities in that regard have been helped by the last-minute comeback Lock orchestrated, however Smith’s return will give Seattle’s offense a lift. Final season’s Comeback Participant of the 12 months has not had the identical success he loved in 2022, however he profiles as having the next ceiling than Lock. Smith’s performances dipped throughout Seattle’s latest shedding streak, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if he can rebound when again on the sphere.
Smith’s 2022 Professional Bowl marketing campaign earned him a major increase on a brand new Seahawks deal. That three-year, $75M pact contains efficiency escalators and scheduled bonus payouts each earlier than and after the start of the 2024 league yr. Because of this, a brief window will exist following the present season through which the staff might transfer on with a restricted cap penalty in quest of a youthful possibility below heart.
Smith’s statistics have fallen nearer to his profession averages in 2023 after he put up private bests throughout the board final yr. Many members of the staff’s offense from the 2022 marketing campaign are nonetheless in place, and the addition of first-round wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba has created an alternative choice within the passing recreation. It will come as little shock if Seattle have been to eye a transfer to a brand new signal-caller rather than Smith, nevertheless, particularly if his late-season efficiency matches his different 2023 showings.
Sitting at 7-7, the Seahawks are within the combine for an NFC wild-card berth, one thing which might duplicate the staff’s achievement from final yr. Smith will earn added reward if he can information Seattle again to the postseason, although he could possibly be taking part in for his long-term future within the Emerald Metropolis over the subsequent few weeks.
