Seahawks' Smith 'hurt' by MNF backup role, but 'excited' for Lock - ESPN

RENTON, Wash. — Geno Smith said he was hurt by the Seattle Seahawks' decision to not start him Monday night but happy for Drew Lock, who helped snap their four-game losing streak by throwing the game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute.

As for whether Smith will start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville after missing the last two games with a groin injury?

«I would hope so,» he said Thursday.

Signs continue to point in that direction. Coach Pete Carroll sounded optimistic on Wednesday that Smith would return this week, and the quarterback has since been listed as a full participant in both of their practices.

«I feel pretty good,» Smith said. «Still getting better.»

Smith had been a limited participant all last week because of the groin injury he suffered in practice on Dec. 7, which kept him out of their loss to the San Francisco 49ers three days later. Lock started in Smith's absence and got all the first-team work leading up to the Eagles game, a main reason why the Seahawks went into Monday night believing he would start again.

But they worked out Smith pregame just in case, and he surprised the team with how good he looked. Carroll said he second-guessed the decision to not start Smith after the workout only to stick with the original plan at the advice of the team's medical and training staffs, though they made Smith active as a backup. That led to what Carroll called a «gut-wrenching» conversation with Smith, who took the news hard.

«It was tough,» he said. «Just preparing myself and doing everything that I possibly can to be ready to play, feeling like I was ready to play, expecting to go out there and play, and then Coach making that decision. We've got to live with it. Obviously, I was hurt