Due to a groin injury, Geno Smith is not available for Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks game against the San Francisco 49ers; instead, Drew Lock began as quarterback for the team.
With their backup quarterback, the Seahawks, who are already double-digit favorites, will want to end a three-game losing run and stay in the NFC playoff race.
Running backs Zach Charbonnet (knee bruise) and Ken Walker III (oblique) are available for the Seahawks after both were labeled as doubtful. Walker has missed the last three games in the main. After being marked as doubtful, linebacker Jordyn Brooks (ankle injury) is also available to play.
Due to a heel ailment, Tre Brown, the third cornerback for the Seahawks, is not available.
Smith injured his groin during practice on Thursday, and his status was labeled as uncertain. According to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he had an injury that would likely take two weeks to heal, but he was determined to play against San Francisco. Smith will work out on Sunday morning, according to a source who spoke with ESPN on Saturday, but there wasn’t much hope for his being ready to participate.
A triceps contusion on his throwing arm from the Seahawks’ Nov. 19 defeat to the Rams has also been bothering Smith. Smith said before to practice on Thursday that he was still “not close” to 100 percent, but his groin problem was the sole reason for his dubious classification.
Smith is “doing good,” according to Seahawks general manager John Schneider, but the club elected not to aggravate the issue.
Schneider said, “He tried going and he was out here early this morning working out,” to Seattle Sports 710-AM. “During practice, he encountered an unfavorable circumstance when he somewhat overextended himself and stumbled. He attempted to go, but we don’t want to exacerbate the situation, so he isn’t going today. Yesterday, we were able to raise and add [quarterback] Sean Mannion to our practice squad. I believe that everyone is eager to see Drew. Drew has been holding the keys for a few days now, so he’s finally getting his chance.
Lock, 27, is set to make his Seahawks debut. Lock, who was acquired in March 2022 from the Denver Broncos in exchange for Russell Wilson, missed all of last season’s regular season action since Smith was able to start over him. In his two short outings this season, Lock has completed 4 of 12 passes for 66 yards and an interception, both coming in relief of an ailing Smith.
Lock was 8–13 as a starter throughout his three seasons with the Broncos, throwing twenty interceptions and twenty touchdown passes. In 2019, Denver selected Lock in the second round of the draft.
Coach Pete Carroll said on Friday, “He’s been waiting for this opportunity, looking forward to it, and preparing for it.” He is as prepared as he can be if this happens. I’m happy that he will get the opportunity to play. I am aware that he has been very focused and rigorous in his weekly effort to convince himself that he would be playing.
The Seahawks upgraded Sean Mannion for Sunday’s game after re-signing him to their practice squad on Friday due to Smith’s groin injury.
The following players are not available for Seattle: linebacker Patrick O’Connell, wide receiver Dee Eskridge (ribs), offensive tackles McClendon Curtis and Raiqwon O’Neal, and outside linebacker Frank Clark Sr. The Seahawks said on Saturday that Clark would not be traveling to the Bay Area and would not be available due to non-injury.
As of Sunday afternoon, ESPN BET has the 49ers (9-3) at a 14.5-point advantage over the Seahawks (6-6). Thanksgiving night, San Francisco defeated Seattle 31–13 at Lumen Field. Since then, the 49ers have defeated the Seahawks four times in a row, amassing a 120–56 victory margin. Carroll joined the Seahawks as head coach in 2010, and the team has not lost four consecutive games since then.
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