In the second preseason game, the Seattle Seahawks were crushed in a 27-11 defeat to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
Drew Locke was originally planned to be debuted in that match. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The Seahawks then picked Geno Smith to replace Locke.
This was the golden chance for Smith to shine. Pete Carroll, Seattle coach, had even commented earlier this week that Smith was the team’s best quarterback but he failed to fulfill Carroll’s faith.
In the game, Smith threw a few excellent passes, but was unable to connect multiple plays to turn yards into points. The game ended with him finishing 10 for 18 for 112 yards and no touchdowns. To make things worse, Smith also bruised his knee.
Smith was supposed to play into the third quarter but he injured his knee in the first half. After halftime, Jacob Eason had to take over Smith’s position.
“We again just started a little slow, had some self-inflicted wounds. Some things that we can control that really set us back,” Smith said. “And that’s the reason for the preseason is for us to get those things out. Obviously, there’s a ton of room for improvement and a lot of things that we have to improve on very fast.”
When asked about Smith, Carroll said, “He did OK. We needed to come through. We needed to help him a little bit. We needed to make the plays around him, too.”
Smith’s less-than-stellar performance means that Locke still has a chance to win the job. But it also depends on how fast he can recover from his illness and if he’s ready to enter the preseason finale in Dallas next week.
Carroll shared his opinion regarding Locke’s situation.
“It’s disappointing he didn’t get a chance to play tonight,” Carroll said. “We had a different plan for this night and we weren’t able to execute it. Couldn’t do anything about it. That’s why I’m still curious to see how he plays with us. Yeah, I am. He’s done enough good things.
He’s got some real stuff to him and some real exciting ability and playmaking stuff that you will see when he does get his chances eventually. Just disappointed we didn’t get to see more of it tonight.”
Smith was not the only one performing less than perfect in this match. The top choice by the Seahawks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Charles Cross, also had a difficult time with penalties. He received five flags, four of which were for incorrect starts, three of which occurred in the first half.
Boye Mafe, a rookie pass rusher, missed a brief period of action in the first half due to a shoulder injury. He was treated in the locker room, but he returned to the field in the second quarter.
More injuries
Damien Lewis, a left guard, was taken off the field at Lumen Field after he collapsed because of an allegedly serious leg injury. This incident happened because defensive lineman Angelo Blackson accidentally rolled up on Lewis from behind while tackling DeeJay Dallas,
Lewis was motionless for a while before having an air splint placed on his lower right leg before he was taken off the field.
“Damien Lewis has an ankle injury and has been ruled out. #Seahawks,” John Boyle wrote in a tweet regarding Lewis’ injury.
Carroll also informed the reporters in an interview. According to him, the X-rays were negative and Lewis has an ankle sprain.
“We’re very fortunate there. He was upbeat about that a little bit, maybe surprised by the results. We’re thrilled,” Carroll said.
The most likely substitute for Lewis is a switch-hitting backup guard Phil Haynes