Geno Smith Returns to Practice, Reflects on a Tough First Year with the Raiders
Geno Smith was back on the field Wednesday, taking reps at Raiders practice after missing Week 15’s shutout loss to the Eagles with shoulder and back issues. Whether he'll be under center this weekend against the Texans is still up in the air-Smith said he’s taking it “day by day” as he gauges how his body responds.
But while his focus is on getting healthy enough to play, Smith isn’t blind to the bigger picture. At 2-12, the Raiders’ season has unraveled in ways few could’ve predicted back in training camp. And Smith, now deep into his first year in Las Vegas, isn’t sugarcoating where things stand.
“There’s no assessment to be made,” Smith said bluntly. “The record speaks for itself.”
That kind of honesty isn’t bitterness-it’s realism. Smith admitted he’s been surprised by how the season has unfolded, but also made it clear he’s not going anywhere. He emphasized that he’s still fully committed to the Raiders and believes in what the team can build moving forward.
“I’m expecting to win a lot of games here,” Smith said. “Everybody wants to win and everybody’s really urgent, so that’s what we’re pressing towards.”
Urgency is the key word here. Smith spoke about the need for daily improvement, not quick fixes. He acknowledged the disappointment of a lost season-yes, the Super Bowl was the goal-but said the focus now has to shift to steady progress.
“Nothing happens in one day, one year,” he said. “We would have loved to win the Super Bowl this year, but that’s not our reality right now.
The reality is we’ve got to get better, and we’ve got to focus on getting better day to day. Anything else outside of that really is nonsense.”
Smith is under contract for two more years, and his deal includes $18.5 million guaranteed in 2026. But with the team staring down a long offseason and major changes likely on the horizon, nothing feels certain.
One of the biggest questions is whether head coach Pete Carroll will be back next season. If he’s not, that could reshape the entire direction of the franchise-including Smith’s future in silver and black.
For now, though, the veteran quarterback is focused on what’s in front of him: getting healthy, getting back on the field, and trying to help a struggling team finish the season with some pride.
Smith’s message? This year might be lost, but he’s not. And he’s not done believing in what the Raiders can become.