INGLEWOOD—The Seahawks lost Geno Smith to an elbow injury in the second half of their Week 11 game against the Rams, but Smith was able to return late in the fourth quarter, leading a drive that set up a potential game winning field goal.
"A little sore, not the best, but God is good, so I'll just keep pushing," Smith said when asked about his elbow after the game.
Smith's return was an encouraging development in an eventual 17-16 loss to the Rams, but it's not clear yet if the injury will be an issue going forward, particularly with the Seahawks playing the 49ers on Thursday night.
"Geno got a bruise kind of on his triceps, back of his elbow that kind of blew up a little bit, but he was able to come back and execute, so nice effort by him," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
Asked if he was concerned about Smith's availability for Thursday's game, Carroll said, "Sure, on Thursday games, you're worried about everybody coming back. Everybody on your team, it's hard to do. It's one of the great challenges in the league."
When Smith left the game in the third quarter following a hard hit from Aaron Donald, he was replaced by Drew Lock, who finished that series and played two more. After the Rams took the lead in the final two minutes of the game, Smith had shown enough throwing on the sideline to convince athletic trainers and his coaches that he could return to the game for the final drive.
"He convinced them on the sidelines he could do it," Smith said. "It just took a while for it to dissipate or whatever. He threw the ball on the sideline to where they though he could go. It was a great job of him going in.
On returning to the game, Smith said, "I was just trying to go out there and make plays to get us a position to win the game, it was still hurting, but obviously didn't do enough.
"I really just had to try to do my best to fight through the pain. That was the main thing, pain tolerance, just trying my best to fight through and keep going… That's just how I am. I'm always going to try to finish the game if I can."
Smith was asked if he was still sore after the game and said, "Yeah, it hurts."
Like his head coach, Smith said he wasn't sure what this week will hold for him, saying, "We'll see how it goes."
Smith wasn't the only key player on Seattle's offense to exit the game with an injury, as running back Kenneth Walker III was sidelined in the first quarter by what Carroll called a legit oblique strain. The Seahawks also lost rookie safety Jerrick Reed II, a special teams standout, to a knee injury, while rookie receiver Jake Bobo was able to return to the game despite a shoulder injury.
"Kenny got an oblique strain that was legit, he couldn't move hardly with it," Carroll said. "Bobo hurt his shoulder but was able to come back in and play. Jerrick Reed might have hurt his knee some, we'll see about that one."
Asked if there was a timeline on Walker's injury, Carroll said there was not, but added, "He's pretty sore though, it's legit."
The Seahawks were without safety Jamal Adams, who had been listed as questionable on the injury report, the result of the lingering effects of the quadriceps tendon injury that ended his 2022 season and caused him to miss the start of this season.
"We're going to try to get him back," Carroll said. "We'll find out. He was trying to get right, he couldn't quite get ready for this game. It was close, but he couldn't do it, so we'll see what happens this week."
Seahawks players hit the field to warm up ahead of their division matchup versus the 3-6 Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89) and tight end Colby Parkinson (84) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) warm up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
The wide receivers warm up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) warms up prior to the Week 11 matchup vs. the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.
