Seahawks ‘optimistic’ QB Geno Smith could return to play next game

RENTON, Wash. — While there were few positives during Sunday’s 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, there were some Monday as the Seahawks received what coach Mike Macdonald characterized as only good news about the health of quarterback Geno Smith.

“We’re fortunate,’’ Macdonald said during his regular day-after-game news conference Monday afternoon. “A lot of like positive, optimistic signs coming out of the tests.”

Macdonald said the tests revealed no damage to the right knee of Smith, who was injured midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s game and did not return.

“Structurally it’s all there,’’ Macdonald said. “We’re rolling.”

Macdonald even said he was “optimistic” Smith will practice Wednesday.

Macdonald said Smith could take his normal amount of reps with the first team in practice all week as the Seahawks prepare to host Minnesota Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Lumen Field.

“Hopefully we’ll see him practice throughout the week (and we’re) optimistic (about) him being ready for the game,’’ Macdonald said.

Macdonald noted Smith was back at the facility Monday.

“Geno is a beast, man,’’ Macdonald said. “He’s in here working out in the morning, working through it. I know he’s still feeling it. But this guy is tough as nails.”

Smith was injured with just over seven minutes to play in the third quarter when he was tackled by Green Bay’s Edgerrin Cooper as he tried to throw the ball away under pressure.

Smith limped off after being examined on the field. He was in the medical tent on the sidelines and taken into the locker room. He returned to the sidelines late in the third quarter and hoped to reenter the game but was unable to, Macdonald said.

Smith is third in the NFL in passing yards with 3,623 with 14 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He has also rushed for 231 yards on 47 carries, third on the team.

Sam Howell, who started all 17 games for Washington last season and was acquired in a trade in March to be the backup, replaced Smith for the rest of the series on which he was injured — which ended in a field goal that cut Green Bay’s lead to 20-6 — and seven others that followed.

One ended in a touchdown, a 45-yard drive following a fumble recovery. But four others ended in punts, one in an interception and the final as time ran out on the game.

Howell, who had played just one snap previously this season, finished 5 of 14 for 24 yards with one interception, a passer rating of 14.6 and was sacked four times.

“Was hoping he’d play better, frankly,’’ Macdonald said. “Just get us back in the game, move the ball a little bit more. But he was put in at tough spot where they know that we’re throwing and we know that we’re throwing, so they are rocking and rolling and doing their stuff. But talking to Sam, he’s mentally tough as nails, I know he’s physically tough as nails. So if he gets the opportunity again he’s going to do what he does.’’

Macdonald said Howell would have a normal week of preparation for the Minnesota game, indicating that the hope is Smith will get his usual work.

Playoff odds take a hit

The Upshot’s calculations gave the Seahawks a 61% chance to make the playoffs following last Sunday’s win at Arizona.

Those were down to 25% on Monday morning. That’s mostly because of their loss to Green Bay but also because of the Rams’ win at San Francisco on Thursday night, with victories by Washington and Arizona also a factor.

It was a weekend in which everything the Seahawks didn’t want to happen to help them make the playoffs happened.

The Seahawks and the Rams are 8-6, but L.A. holds the tiebreaker because of a head-to-head win in October. That means if the season ended today, the Seahawks would be out of the playoffs.

In part because the Rams will be favored to win the rematch against the Seahawks on Jan. 4-5, L.A. has a 63% chance to make the playoffs.

Arizona, which improved to 7-7 with a win over New England, is at 10%

The odds for all three teams are pretty much the same to win the division, which is about the only viable entry to the postseason for anyone from the NFC West with the Vikings (11-2 going into a game Monday night against Chicago), the Packers (10-4) and Washington (9-5) holding on to the top three spots.

Washington also holds the tiebreaker with a better conference record at 5-3 to the Seahawks’ 4-5.

Still struggling at home

Sunday’s loss dropped the Seahawks to 3-5 at Lumen Field and assured the Seahawks of a losing record at home for just the second time since 2008 (the other when the Seahawks went 3-5 at home in 2021 in going 7-10) and third time since moving into Lumen in 2002.

It’s just the 11th home losing record in Seahawks history.

The real oddity is that the Seahawks are 5-1 on the road this season, and with two road games left, assured of a winning record outside of Seattle.