The Seahawks took the definition of "game-time decision" to heart on Monday.
It was not until Drew Lock jogged onto the field with the Seattle offense on their first drive that the Seahawks' starting quarterback was known for the "Monday Night Football" contest against the Eagles. Typical QB1 Geno Smith was dealing with a groin injury, and considered questionable for the prime-time matchup.
While he was active for the game, Smith ultimately did not see any action during the team's stunning 20-17 win over Philadelphia. Going with Lock certainly worked out well for Pete Carroll's crew; however, Smith's fantasy football managers were left seething at the decision. With a majority of leagues currently beginning their playoffs, users may not have been able to switch out Smith for Lock in their lineups.
Of course, NFL coaches and players don't care about your fantasy teams. Their lone focus is on winning and doing what is best for their club.
MORE: Drew Lock gives emotional interview after leading Seahawks to comeback win
However, with the way Monday night's quarterback situation unfolded, it's understandable why those fantasy owners were left frustrated.
What happened to Geno Smith vs. Eagles?
Smith was listed as questionable with a groin injury heading into Week 15. The veteran made an attempt to get ready to take on the Eagles on Monday night, but Seattle ultimately went with Lock.
Smith suffered the injury during a 28-16 loss to the 49ers in Week 14, and was a limited participant in practice ahead of the Eagles game. Lock received a majority of the reps with the first team, as the Seahawks wanted to limit Smith as much as possible.
The Seahawks starter conducted an on-field workout before the game to see how the groin would feel. And this is where the frustration boiled over for fantasy owners. When Seattle's inactives list came out 90 minutes before kickoff, Smith's name was nowhere to be seen. While it wasn't confirmed who would be the starter, if Smith was going to dress, the thought was that he would be able to play.
Obviously, that didn't turn out to be the case. Carroll explained after the game that the Seahawks worked Smith out and dressed him for the contest in the event that they would need him at some point. However, that ended up not being the case, as Lock played the entirety of the "MNF" victory.
#Seahawks coach Pete Carroll explains tonight’s Geno Smith active / Drew Lock starter decision
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) December 19, 2023
pretty straightforward pic.twitter.com/tnw8CsAVK2
"We went out tonight to see if he could play if we needed him to play," Carroll said after the game. "With the workout, he looked really good in the workout, but that was really the one taxing workout that we put him through.
"We knew we could dress him, and if we needed him, we could go to him, in hopes we wouldn't have to so we could buy him another week of healing because it was really too soon. It was a tough decision."
MORE: Where Seahawks stand in updated NFL standings, playoff picture after Week 15
Carroll admitted that Smith pushed back once the final decision was made, but ultimately he accepted it.
"Oh yeah, oh yeah," Carroll said. "We were battling. We were battling. But he understood."
Even after Lock's incredible final drive to give the Seahawks the stunning victory, Carroll confirmed after the game that when healthy, Smith is the starter.
While fantasy football owners of Smith likely were none too pleased to see the last-minute switch, it ended up being a major win for the Seahawks. Not only did Lock lead the team to a big-time win, keeping their postseason hopes alive, but it gave Smith an extra week of rest to help heal the groin.
It's a light schedule for Seattle to end the regular season, with matchups against Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Arizona on the docket. The Seahawks sit right outside of a wild card position, but they are one of four teams tied at 7-7 for the final two spots.
We'll see if Smith is ready to roll next week against the Titans, or if Lock will have to work his magic yet again.
