The Seattle Seahawks had a scary moment in their 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field on Sunday night.
Quarterback Geno Smith had to leave the game following a low hit by Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper when Smith was trying to land on his feet after jumping while trying to throw the ball away on a pass in the third quarter.
Geno Smith suffered a knee injury
Smith would not return to the game. Per NFL Media, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said after the loss that Smith’s knee was “structurally” okay but that he’d have to undergo more tests to determine how serious the issue is.
“I’ll tell you this, this guy’s probably the toughest player I’ve been around,” Macdonald said. “(It was) severe enough for him not to come back in the game. We’ll do all the tests tomorrow and kind of figure it out as we go. Right now, structurally it looks like it’s OK. We’ll get him imaged and all that stuff.”
Smith’s replacement, Sam Howell, went just five-of-14 passing for 24 yards and an interception against the Packers. Smith went 15-of-19 passing for 149 yards and an interception on a night the Seahawks would fall to 8-6.
A dirty hit by the Green Bay Packers?
Per NBC Sports rules analyst and former NFL referee Terry McAulay, the hit by Cooper was legal because Smith’s feet were not touching the ground. Despite McAulay’s explanation, fans on social media argued as to whether the play was a dirty hit or not.
“Dirtiest team in the NFL,” wrote SpeakEZsports.
Dirtiest team in the @NFL #GoPackGo 🖕🏽 pic.twitter.com/TZvyrlqaIs
— Eazy (@SpeakEZsports_) December 16, 2024
“Also was a clear and obvious low dirty hit that put Geno smith in a wheel chair yet here we are,” posted another.
“Dirty hit. RIP GENO BETS,” posted another.
“Packers with the dirty hit on geno,” suggested a fan.
“Packers player just hit Geno low. What a dirty player. Am I doing this correctly or is it ok when a Packer player goes low,” asked another.