RENTON — Geno Smith is back for the Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle’s Pro Bowl quarterback the last two seasons was one of the first players on the field for the 11th practice of the team’s training camp Monday morning. He was in full pads and throwing.
Then he resumed leading. It was his first work on the field since a defensive teammate banged into his knee and hip accidentally six days earlier.
“It’s great,” coach Mike Macdonald said.
“We followed the steps what everyone was saying we needed to do. And it was time for him to go out there. And he was there.
“It was great.”
So what are Smith’s limitations?
Macdonald was asked if Smith is now full go to resume all participation with no restrictions.
“As far as I know,” the coach said, “he’s rollin’.”
The Seahawks play their first preseason game Saturday at the Los Angeles Chargers. It had been unclear before his injuries whether Smith would play in the relatively meaningless exhibition opener, though offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is in the process of installing his new schemes for this season.
Smith, 33, had imaging tests Thursday and another test Saturday. Those showed no significant damage.
Backup Sam Howell had led the offense in practices Smith missed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. His passing each day ranged from solid to not very good, then other times off target.
Monday he was often way off target again.
The Washington Commanders starter last season Seattle acquired in a trade of draft picks this spring sprayed throws in one series of 11-on-11 scrimmaging late in practice. Howell threw well wide left of receiver Easop Winston running a deep route down the left sideline. He threw another pass far out of bounds past his intended receiver to the other sideline. Then Howell sent a third pass far out of bounds, again uncatchable for his receiver. That ended the drive.
Smith was sharp in his return Monday, as he was in camp before the injuries. He ended the practice with a check-down pass in the left flat to running back Kenny McIntosh, who beat rookie inside weakside linebacker Tyrice Knight to and down the left sideline for a touchdown.
The one time in scrimmaging defenders came close to Smith, the 12th-year quarterback sidestepped one then a second pass rusher and moved toward the line of scrimmage. Rather than taking off on a scramble run, Smith just held the ball and the play stopped.
“He’s been coming out here and proving that he’s ready, and that this year is going to look a little different,” wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said of Smith.
The QB flew to Texas, where Smith-Njigba is from, to work out with Seattle’s 2023 first-round pick this offseason.
“It’s good for him to be back and get back with us,” Smith-Njigba said, “and for him to get to rollin’ again.”
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