Raiders defender Geno Smith suffered a quadriceps contusion early in the fourth quarter of a Thursday Night Football game in Las Vegas against an AFC West rival. Broncosaccording to coach Pete Carroll. He eventually re-entered the game, but was clearly compromised.
Smith tried to run the ball as Denver's standout linebacker Nick Bonitto tripped him to limit the play to 1 yard. Broncos Quarterback Malcolm Roach then landed on Smith, who initially stood up but then fell back down. Smith walked off the field cautiously but returned after allowing just two offensive hits.
“He wanted to come back worse,” Carroll said. “He wanted to finish the game for his teammates. He got hit in the quad, got a quad bruise or something like that, a concussion, whatever it was. He was hit. It's just him fighting.”
Smith said he was “in a lot of pain” but tried to hide it.
“It’s just the way I’m wired,” Smith said. “I never want to leave my teammates alone. I feel like I have a big responsibility to be there and do whatever I can to help us win. I felt like I could try to hold on and that's what I tried to do.”
Kenny Pickett played two snaps that Smith missed.
In the final minutes of the game, Smith was listed as questionable – although the Raiders offense never returned to the field after that ruling – and had a heating pad on his left quadriceps. Carroll said Smith would not have returned to the game if the Raiders had been able to get the ball back.
It's been a tough year for the 35-year-old Smith, who arrived in Las Vegas this offseason in a trade and was reunited with his ex, Carroll. Seahawks trainer. Smith threw 12 interceptions, most of them in NFLand only 11 touchdowns, and the Raiders are 2-7.
Smith finished 16 of 26 for 143 yards, one interception and six sacks.
The Raiders are given a mini-bye plus an extra day of rest; their Week 11 game is Monday Night Football vs. Cowboys.
