Geno Smith, the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, will be unavailable for this Sunday’s road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. He is currently sidelined due to a lower back injury. This is a noteworthy change for the Raiders who will now be leaning on Kenny Pickett to helm their offense. Smith has emerged as one of the Raiders’ most indispensable players this season. He’s thrown for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions over the course of just 13 games. As he recuperates, Pickett’s performance will be crucial for the team’s chances against a formidable Eagles defense.
Smith’s recent woes included a right shoulder injury suffered in last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos. He has been undergoing multiple evaluations and treatment, coming and going from the training facility all week. His completion percentage is 67% with a QBR of 32.5, both of those numbers put him at 30th in the league. Regardless, his absence will force the Raiders to adjust on the fly.
Kenny Pickett Steps Up
Sixth-round quarterback Kenny Pickett had been traded from the Cleveland Browns before this season started. Now, he’s positioned to slide in as the starting QB, replacing Smith. We know he’s been rehearsing all week. Due to precious first-team reps, he’s best positioned to step into this role.
During his limited playing time this season, Pickett has showcased that he’s the quarterback of the future. During the last quarter of the Raiders’ last game, he threw six consecutive completions. One of those happened to be a gorgeous 25-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Shedrick Jackson. All that said, the guy still grossed 8 for 11 for 97 yards and a TD in that game.
“He managed it in a very difficult situation,” – Greg Olson
With tight end Michael Mayer and rookie wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. expected to play significant roles in the upcoming game, Pickett will have support as he leads the offense. His speedy adjustment to the starting role will be key as he faces an Eagles squad that’s long been lauded for its tough-nosed D.
Smith’s Performance and Legacy
It’s just that Geno Smith has played this well as a starter, going 15-10. He’s given glimpses of greatness, but his inability to stay on the field has made that consistency impossible. His numbers are those of a quarterback who has yet to build momentum this season through a perfect storm of issues.
Even through all of his struggles, Smith’s leadership and experience have indubitably paid dividends for young Raiders. His style of play, combined with his poise and ability to dictate the flow of a game, has made him highly-respected within the organization. Coach Pete Carroll once noted,
“This is exactly how we did it with Geno for years [in Seattle].”
These sentiments underscore not only Smith’s arduous path to redemption, but his indispensable role in molding the Knick’s fierce identity.
Looking Ahead
As Kenny Pickett gets ready to steal the show, he does so with a somewhat checkered pedigree. He was eventually drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of 2022. Since then, he has bounced between four teams and tossed just 4,870 yards while resulting in 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions across 33 pro games. His completion percentage of 62.4% is just another nice bit of proof behind a promising yet up-and-down career to this point.
Pickett’s agility and ability to extend plays with his legs could provide an added dimension to the Raiders’ offense that has been missing under Smith’s leadership.
“Even in college, he did a lot of things there with his legs,” – Greg Olson
His performance in his first start in the next game will largely determine how this season goes. It would determine his longterm future with the franchise.
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