Geno

Smith

Smith is dealing with an ankle injury and won’t suit up for the season finale against the Chiefs. That means Kenny Pickett will get another start for a Raiders team positioned to get the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pickett threw for 64 yards and an interception in a Week 14 start against the Eagles.

It appears as though Smith’s season is over. Earlier today, Vegas Nation’s Vincent Bonsignore reported that the Raiders will use “a combination of Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell” this week. Neither player should be in starting lineups, in what sounds like some sort of game-day platoon. In his first season with the Raiders, Smith completed 302-of-448 passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while rushing 41 times for 109 yards. He is under contract through 2027, though he is owed no money that season. If the Raiders were to cut him this offseason, it would cost them $18.5 million in dead money while saving them $8 million.

For those of you keeping up-to-the-minute updates on the end of the Raiders season — there’s a few of you, right? — Carroll said yesterday that Smith had a high-ankle sprain. He apparently does not have that, after all. But what he does have remains significant. The end result is probably still Kenny Pickett starting in Week 18 against the Chiefs in a game that the Raiders clearly want to lose. Pickett does, admittedly, give them a leg up in that competition. We’ll see if he can match Chris Olodokun throw for throw.

Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise. Smith had his right foot pinned by a Raiders offensive lineman during an interception return, and a Giants defender hit him via an illegal block from the left side, badly twisting the right ankle. Trainers came out to meet Smith on the field after he remained down after the play. He eventually limped his way to the locker room and was later ruled out. Considering this injury often fells players for multiple weeks, it’s likely Smith is done for the season and Kenny Pickett should be in line to get Week 18 work.

Smith was injured via an illegal block during an interception return on the Raiders’ seventh drive. A Raiders offensive lineman hit the ground on the play, pinning Smith’s right foot as Giants CB Rico Payton hit Smith from the left, twisting and stressing the inside of Smith’s right knee and ankle joints. It was Smith’s second interception of the day. His first occurred on a red zone play, when he errantly threw the football to Giants LB Bobby Okereke while attempting to lead TE Michael Mayer. If Smith can face the Chiefs next week, he will be a low-end QB2. Raiders backup QB Kenny Pickett could get the start. Before exiting, Smith completed 20-of-28 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed once for one yard and took three sacks for 24 yards.

Smith opened scoring in the game by firing a pick-six directly to Derek Stingley Jr., but bounced back and put up a viable effort for the rest of the game. He connected with Ashton Jeanty on a sideline go-ball for one score, and found Brock Bowers in traffic in the first half for his other score. Smith remained mostly immobile, but the Raiders were able to chip enough with their tight ends to keep Houston’s pass rush from completely dominating the game and Smith took just three sacks. The Raiders take on the Giants in the No. 1 pick bowl next weekend. Smith will be a viable superflex QB2 against New York.

Sugar, we’re going down swinging. Smith will be a backend QB2/QB3 in superflex leagues against the Texans defense. He was practicing in full ahead of Friday, and we’re going to assume he had no setbacks based on this statement. Carroll said that Smith would be the starter for the remainder of the season as well.

Smith practiced in full, putting him on track to suit up this week. He missed the Raiders’ Week 15 game against the Eagles, in which Las Vegas’ offense totaled 75 yards. Hopefully, Smith is feeling ready to play. He entered Week 15 with a foot injury, suffered abrasions on his throwing hand’s ring and pinky fingers, plus injured his throwing shoulder and back. The Texans’ elite pass rush will be a problem for him, if he is active.

It was unclear how things could get worse for the Raiders in Geno Smith’s (shoulder) absence, but they did just that in Philly, with the game taking barely two and a half hours as the Raiders mustered 75 yards of offense. Pickett had 29 yards net passing thanks to taking four sacks for 35 yards. The Eagles rested their starters for nearly the entire fourth quarter. Abysmal, unwatchable stuff that ensures the Raiders will actually try to get Smith back under center if he’s able for Week 16 in Houston. Whomever gets the call will be getting thrown to the wolves vs. perhaps the league’s best overall pass defense. It makes players like Brock Bowers tenuous for the fantasy semifinals.

Meredith and Thomas were on the questionable line while Smith and Bachman were ruled out on Friday. No major changes from expectations here; Kenny Pickett will start against the Eagles in a #RevengeGame and figures to be one of the weaker superflex options on the slate today.