Geno Smith is back in familiar territory, at least in terms of the way he’s playing.
A few weeks into the season, Smith is giving the Jets the kind of quarterback production that stands out on any NFL stat sheet. New York sits at 1-2 heading into Week 4, which isn’t a perfect start, but it is a clear step forward after last season, when it took the Jets weeks to pick up even one win. And the biggest reason for the optimism is what Smith has done under center.
CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell recently ranked NFL quarterbacks, explaining that “These rankings are fluid and designed to tell the story of each starting quarterback's respective rise and/or fall throughout the season,” and Smith landed at No. 11. That placement puts him firmly among the league’s better starters.
Podell pointed to Smith’s latest outing as proof. “Geno Smith has turned the clock back to his Seattle Seahawks, Pro Bowl prime in his second stint with the New York Jets,” he notes in the piece. “Smith is fresh off throwing for 321 yards and three passing touchdowns on 31 of 37 passing in a narrow 31-24 defeat against the Detroit Lions in Week 3.”
The numbers only sharpen the picture. According to Podell, Smith is No. 1 in the NFL in completion percentage at 75.5% and ranks fifth in passer rating at 110.0. That’s the sort of efficiency that makes an offense look organized and dangerous, no matter the opponent.
“Quarterbacking is now an old man's game in the NFL,” Podell adds, a line that fits the current league landscape with veterans like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford still out there doing it at a high level.
In Other News...
Seahawks Backfield Concern Grows As Key Defender Trends Toward Return
The Seahawks Thursday injury report brought a little clarity on the back end and a few more questions in the backfield. Safety Ty Okada was limited, and Julian Love was also listed as limited, though Love is expected to play against the Chargers. Seattles running back room, meanwhile, kept drawing attention, with rookie Jadarian Price sidelined by a chest injury and George Holani limited in practice.
Zach Charbonnet was back on the field in a limited capacity after working his way back from an ACL tear, a sign the Seahawks are at least moving him closer to availability. He is not yet eligible to play in games, but his return to practice adds another layer to a backfield that already looks thin at the moment, especially with Seattle still sorting through who will be available when the Chargers come to town. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Rushing Struggles Point To A Bigger Offensive Concern
Seattles rushing problems have become one of the clearest signs that the offense is still trying to find its footing. The Seahawks are averaging 101 rushing yards per game, a drop from what they had hoped to establish, and the reasons are layered: the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Kenneth Walker IIIs absence, injuries to other ball-carriers and the usual ripple effects that come with quarterback instability.
Even with that uneven ground game, the offense has still managed to put up 25 points per game on average, which is part of why the bigger concern feels less like a collapse than a work in progress. The expectation around the team is that the rushing attack should improve as the pieces settle, but for now it remains tied to a larger question about how quickly Seattle can regain consistency across the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Get Encouraging Injury News Before A Bigger Chargers Test
The Seahawks got a useful midweek lift as they worked through practice preparations for a bigger Chargers test. Zach Charbonnet opened his practice window, a meaningful step as Seattle continues to manage its backfield, while Ty Okada was back in limited work after missing time. The rest of the injury report brought a familiar mix of limited and full participation, giving the coaching staff a better sense of who might be available as the game plan comes into focus.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, had a more uneven day on the field. Some Chargers players were back to full participation, but Derwin James and Ladd McConkey did not practice after being limited the previous day, a sign that the situation still bears watching on both sides of the matchup. For Seattle, the encouraging developments are helpful, but the real test will be how much of that progress carries into a game against a Chargers team that is still sorting out its own health. [Read more 🡒]