Is Geno Smith playing today?

The Seattle Seahawks play the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday in each team's first preseason game of 2024. The assumption is that most of the presumptive starters will not play. Will DK Metcalf? Maybe. We will see.

The key is that Seattle has new offensive and defensive systems to install. That can be done to a degree in practice, but sometimes real-time reps in preseason games are needed as well. As far as Geno Smith is concerned, he may be one of the few starting quarterbacks in the NFL who is fine with not needing to play with a new system.

The reason is that Smith bounced around as a backup for years and, therefore, had to learn many different systems with many different teams so his ability to learn and adapt is likely leagues beyond what a long-term starter on one team has to do. Smith's natural way is probably to get ready to learn something new. That is not a bad thing.

Seattle Seahawks QB1 Geno Smith will not play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Preseason Week 1

In training camp so far, he has looked sharp and appears to have a strong grasp on what new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb needs. If Week 1 were next week, the Seahawks could feel assured that Smith knows what Grubb wants to happen and can execute that. Backups Sam Howell and PJ Walker might not be quite as ready to be immediately ready to implement all of Grubb's scheme.

Howell and Walker will probably get a lot more reps in the preseason because they need to. Smith's presumed backup, Howell, has not been sharp in training camp. Walker has been better, but Walker hasn't proven he can be a long-term starter in the NFL though he has been in the league since 2020.

Smith is not going to play against the Los Angeles Chargers - per Mike Macdonald saying he was "unlikely" - nor does he need to. To risk him to unnecessary injury in a meaningless game is ridiculous. Howell and Walker need to prove their value to the Seahawks. Smith does not.

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