For the second week in a row, the Seahawks head into a game uncertain of who will be their starting quarterback.
Geno Smith, who missed last week's game with a groin injury, was a limited participant in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Monday's night's game against the Eagles. And just as Smith was a game-day decision last week, ultimately declared inactive following a pregame workout, he once again will be a game-day decision on Monday, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
"He made it through the week," Carroll said. "He made it through with the work that he's done. He's still questionable and we'll wait and see what happens on gameday."
Asked if Smith was able to do more than last Sunday when a pregame workout ruled him out for the game, Carroll added, "He was able to do stuff. He threw the ball all week."
If Smith isn't able to play, that would mean a second straight start for Drew Lock, who had a solid first start as a Seahawk last week, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns, while also being intercepted twice, on the road against a very strong 49ers defense following a week in which he didn't get usual starter's reps due to Smith's injury occurring in Thursday's practice.
Should Lock be called upon this week, that experience of making his first start since he was with Denver in 2021 should help this week.
"It's hugely valuable," Carroll said. "We've talked all about it, hung out just talking about what the experience was like, and how he feels differently, so if he's called on, he'll be in just a clearer mindset because of what he went through. It was a very difficult game, a challenging game last week, and he made it through it. He handled it really well and came out of it with a clear mind and all, so that's only going to be beneficial for him."
Smith is one of five players listed as questionable for the Seahawks along with cornerback Devon Witherspoon (hip), safety Jamal Adams (knee), linebacker Nick Bellore (knee) and receiver Dee Eskridge (ribs). None of those players practiced Friday, and Carroll indicated all will be game-day decisions.
On Witherspoon, Carroll said, "We're hoping. He's questionable."
Asked if that meant the rookie defensive back was a game-day decision, Carroll said, "Yes, it's going to take us some time, but we'll figure it out."
Adams, who came back this season from a torn quadriceps tendon, has had his workload limited all season, but this week he did not participate in any of the three practices.
"He's a great player, and I'm trying to maximize his recovery and make sure that he's available to us as much as we possibly can get him," Carroll said. "So we helped him out this week as much as we could."
Eskridge, who has missed the last two games, "is having trouble getting back," Carroll said. "We thought he would get back a little bit sooner, but he continues to be sore, so he's still questionable. We get a little bit of extra time, we'll see if that helps us out there."
On Bellore, Carroll said, "He's questionable also. He needed all the days, he'll be questionable until he isn't."
Seahawks practice outside the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash. on Dec. 15, 2023.