- Smith was surprisingly named active for the match despite a recent groin injury
- Seattle then avoided confirming which quarterback would start for them
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Drew Lock will start at quarterback for the Seahawks against the Eagles tonight, despite first-round pick Geno Smith being named active before the game.
For reasons unclear, Seattle bizarrely chose not to announce their starting quarterback prior to kickoff at Lumen Field.
Ultimately, it became clear that Lock would get the honors when the backup quarterback was on the field practicing in full uniform. Smith, who has just overcome a groin injury, was nowhere to be seen.
And when the two teams emerged from the tunnel Monday night, it was Lock who took the field as the Seahawks' starting quarterback against the Eagles.
ESPN quickly revealed during their live broadcast that despite being listed as active, Smith has not convinced the Seahawks staff that he is fit enough to play all of tonight's game.
Drew Lock will start at quarterback for the Seahawks against the Eagles tonight
Seattle bizarrely opted not to name their starter before kickoff after first-choice Geno Smith was named active for the game
Smith, who missed their Week 14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers due to the injury, is expected to have been limited in practice this week after initially only recovering from his groin problem.
The 33-year-old has thrown for 2,918 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games so far this season.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts is also starting in Seattle despite a recent battle with illness.
Despite back-to-back losses, the Eagles still hold a half-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East and are competing for the conference's top playoff seed. On Sunday, they secured a third straight playoff berth when the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals.
With four straight losses, the Seahawks have gone from the top of the NFC West to needing to make up ground for a wild-card playoff berth.
“You don't win without adversity,” Hurts said before the game.
“That's just the name of it. We would like to come here and be perfect. But perfection is just an illusion.'
The current four games in Seattle are the longest since Pete Carroll took over as coach in 2010
The Seahawks have lost twice to the division-leading 49ers in the last three weeks, including 28-16 last Sunday in Santa Clara, California, when Lock started in place of the injured Smith.
The current four games in Seattle are the longest since Pete Carroll took over as coach in 2010.
“That was just really frustrating because this was an opportunity to beat these guys at their place. We had a chance to do that,” head coach Pete Carroll said of the last game against the 49ers, in which the Seahawks allowed 527 total yards.
“We moved the football well enough to put some points on the board. We couldn't hold them off all (day) long. We didn't succeed.'