Lodi News-Sentinel

Seahawks’ Geno Smith questionab­le; Drew Lock readies to start at 49ers

- Gregg Bell THE NEWS TRIBUNE (TACOMA, WASH.)

The reeling Seahawks didn’t need this.

Geno Smith is injured again, and the quarterbac­k is supposed to start Sunday when Seattle (6-6) tries to end a three-game losing streak at rolling San Francisco (9-3).

The Seahawks list Smith as questionab­le for the NFC West game with a new groin injury. Backup Drew Lock ran the first-team offense in practice Friday, the last full workout before the game.

Coach Pete Carroll said following practice Smith didn’t participat­e at all.

“He just tweaked his groin a little bit. Just kind of stumbled over somebody,” Carroll told reporters at team headquarte­rs in Renton.

Asked if Smith will play

Sunday, the coach said:

“We’ll see. We rested him today.”

Lock has appeared in two games this season: Oct.

2 at the

New York

Giants and Nov.

18 at the Los Angeles Rams. Both times that was because Smith left those games injured before returning. Lock, the former Denver Broncos starter Seattle acquired as part of the Russell Wilson trade in the spring of 2022, completed 2 of 6 passes in each of those two cameo appearance­s this season.

This would be the first start for Lock in his two seasons with Seattle.

Carroll made that sound possible.

“He’s been waiting for this opportunit­y,” Carroll said. “If this comes to pass he is as ready as he’s going to get”

To further underscore concern about Smith, the Seahawks signed back veteran quarterbac­k Sean Mannion to the practice squad Friday.

To be available to be Lock’s backup in Sunday’s game, the Seahawks would have to elevate Mannion from the practice squad for the game by Saturday 1 p.m.

If the team doesn’t do that by Saturday afternoon, that’s an indication the Seahawks think Smith will play Sunday.

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