Not long after exiting Sunday's game with a knee injury, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was back on the Seattle sideline trying to talk his way back into the game.
Smith was held out for the rest of Sunday's loss to the Packers, but he is back to practice this week, and plans on playing when the Seahawks host the Vikings this weekend.
"I'm getting better every day, and I'm looking forward to Sunday," Smith said.
In the moment, Smith recalled the torn ACL he suffered early in his career, though it didn't take him long to get from that point to plotting his potential return to the game.
"It was definitely one of those scary falls where I just didn't know what was going on, but it definitely didn't feel stable enough to get back out there," he said. "… That's the toughest thing, trying to fight the competitiveness. Once before I tore my ACL, and I actually was trying to go back in that game. So I'm always going to be precautionary, just because I feel like I tolerate pain well, and if I can do anything to get back out there, I will. It just felt like the decision was made that it was best to not risk it anymore."
Smith went to the locker room not long after suffering the injury, but later he returned to Seattle's sideline and put his helmet back on, and briefly tried to talk his way back into the game.
"I was trying to," he said. "I was trying my best to get out there."
Asked if he would be playing at less than 100 percent this weekend, Smith noted that nearly everyone in the NFL is less than 100 percent this far into the season, and said that if there are any physical limitations, he still can't let that be an excuse.
"A lot of guys are less than 100 percent, I've been that way pretty much the majority of the season, that's just the way the NFL goes," he said. "But no excuses, got to go out there and perform."
And after watching him practice fully for a second straight day, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said he's confident Smith will be ready to perform at a high level.
"He looked really good," Grubb said. "He took every rep today, he did great. He looks great, he's strong, and he's a warrior, man. He'll be ready."
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day spreading holiday cheer at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spent the day at Seattle's Children's Hospital on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
