SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks’ hopes of making the playoffs were dealt at least one blow Sunday night with a loss to the Green Bay Packers — and perhaps one more, depending on the severity of Geno Smith’s knee injury.

The veteran quarterback went down midway through the third quarter and did not return after taking a low blow from linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Smith’s knee appears to be structurally sound, but his status for next Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain.

“I’ll tell you one thing, this guy is probably the toughest player I’ve ever been around,” Macdonald said after the Seahawks’ 30-13 loss. “It was so serious that he couldn’t get back into the game. We’ll do all the testing tomorrow and kind of figure it out as we go along. But right now structurally it looks like it’s fine, but we have to get it photographed and all that stuff.”

As Smith threw an incomplete pass on first down, a diving Cooper hit the back of Smith’s right leg, causing his knee to hyperflex as his shoe became stuck in the turf. Smith was visibly upset after the goal, which did not result in a penalty. He began hobbling off the field before stopping and lying on his back in obvious pain. He was examined in the medical tent and then limped into the tunnel.

Cooper said he felt the hit was “100 percent” clean.

“He just said I was jumping at his ankles, but I was just trying to take him down,” Cooper said. “That’s it, simple as that.”

Smith jogged back to the sideline in the fourth quarter with a heavy limp and at one point appeared ready to return to the game, putting on his helmet while standing on the edge of the sideline.

“He wanted it and then he was close to going back,” Macdonald said. “…And then he just couldn’t leave.”

Sam Howell had a lot of trouble relieving Smith, completing just five of 14 attempts for 24 yards and one interception. He was sacked four times and was pressured on 53% of his dropbacks.

“It wasn’t good enough to win,” Macdonald said of Howell’s performance in his first extended appearance of the season. “I know he is disappointed. It just didn’t feel like we were getting the ball out in a timely manner, and then there was our lack of pass protection. I know we gave up a lot of sacks and they did a good job too.” “They were covering the routes and rushing the passer and it was a complementary play on their side.”

Howell, acquired in an offseason trade with the Washington Commanders after starting 17 games last season, had played just one snap in 2024 before Sunday night. He completed a field goal drive after taking over from Smith, making it 20-6 Green Bay, and led another touchdown drive to help Seattle get within 10 points in the fourth quarter. But his other five drives ended with four punts and an interception for Cooper.

“I think at the end of the day I have to get better,” Howell said. “My job is to be ready to go in there, play well and help this team win, and I didn’t do that today. So I just have to get better and watch the film and learn from it.”

The Seahawks also lost center Olu Oluwatimi in the first half to what Macdonald described as a knee and quadriceps injury. He said he was unsure of the severity, except that it was enough to deter Oluwatimi from returning. Seattle allowed a total of seven sacks and 12 QB hits, a week after allowing zero sacks and just two QB hits in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

For his part, Howell said he needed to get rid of the ball quicker.

“At the end of the day, sacks are a quarterback statistic,” he said. “I have to make the check-downs a little quicker and just get the ball out of my hands before they get to me.”

Before Smith went down, he completed 15 of 19 attempts for 149 yards and one interception, his 14th of the season. Smith was picked off in the end zone while dropping his back foot under heavy pressure on third down with Seattle already within short field goal range.

According to ESPN Research, it was Smith’s fourth interception in the red zone this season (most in the NFL) and fourth interception on a throw into the end zone (most interceptions in the NFL).

“I haven’t spoken to him about the game, but again, our entire team didn’t play well enough to win,” Macdonald said. “I’m part of it, Geno is part of it, and we have to learn from it and move on.”

The Seahawks (8-6) had won four straight games through Sunday night, catapulting themselves into first place in the NFC West. But their loss to Green Bay and the Rams’ win on Thursday night leaves these teams in a tie at the top of the standings, with Los Angeles getting a straight win. The two teams will play at SoFi Stadium in Week 18.

The loss also eliminated the Seahawks from the current playoffs, as the Commanders have a game lead for the third and final wild card spot. Washington also has two more conference wins in the event of a tiebreaker.

The Seahawks’ chances of making the playoffs fell to 45% with a loss on Sunday night, not taking into account Smith’s injury and the possibility of Howell now having to take over.

“That’s why we have Sam to help us win games when he needs it,” Macdonald said. “Yes, it is a difficult situation. He hasn’t played yet this year. We have faith in Sam. Guy is a great player. If he gets another chance, he’ll do a great job.”

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.