The Seattle Seahawks’ first reported roster cut of the weekend ended perhaps the most talked about position battle of the summer: the backup quarterback.
The team waived Paxton Lynch on Friday afternoon, handing the job to fellow veteran Geno Smith.
Smith, 28, played excellent on Thursday against the Raiders to help secure his spot on the active roster.
He completed four of seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns, a 36-yard strike to Terry Wright on the opening drive and an 11-yard touchdown to tight end Jacob Hollister on a drive lead by quarterback-turned-offensive coordinator Russell Wilson.
“I thought he looked really good,” coach Pete Carroll said after the game. “I thought he did a nice job. A great couple balls down the field. A great touchdown pass to Terry. It was a beautiful play. I think he was 5 for 7, or something like that, in the first half, and looked pretty good, or 4 for 7. He looks in control of the offense. He gets it. He really understands it, so that’s a real positive.”
Smith struggled in the first preseason contest, but he settled in going forward and clearly outplayed Lynch down the stretch.
His ability to learn the offense, use his feet when necessary, and find open receivers was what set him apart from Lynch – and what ultimately gave him the job.
Now that the position is all set, the Seahawks will hope that Smith does not have to see the field at all this year – unless they need him for an overtime coin toss.
