“This guy is probably the toughest player I’ve ever been around. It was bad enough that he didn’t get back into the game,” Macdonald said of Smith’s injury. “We will do all the tests tomorrow and find out as we go. At the moment structurally it looks like it’s fine. I have to get it photographed and all that stuff.”

On Seattle’s second drive of the third quarter, he dropped back to pass and jumped up on the throw-in to avoid an oncoming rusher. However, that maneuver backfired when Green Bay linebacker Edgerrin Cooper hit him low in the ankles, causing the quarterback to grimace in pain and sit on the field to be attended to by trainers.

After being observed for a few moments, Smith carefully left the field under his own power and spent several minutes in the team’s blue injury tent when Howell replaced him and Jason Myers scored a 45-yard field goal. He immediately went back to the locker room with team officials before returning and putting on his helmet, but his knee prevented him from returning to the game as he had hoped.

Without Smith, Seattle’s offense faltered for most of the second half, as Howell completed just five of 14 passes for 24 yards and one interception. Zach Charbonnet was the only bright spot to break loose for a 24-yard touchdown, but five of the six drives in which he played every snap resulted in either a punt or a turnover, losing a strong defensive half for the home team.

Macdonald, who hosts the 11-2 Vikings in their home regular-season finale next week, is hopeful Smith can return and believes the quarterback will do “everything humanly possible to go play,” but the Seahawks will have to see test results and how his body reacts to the treatment in the next few days before they have an idea whether he can adapt to this treatment or not.

In the meantime, Seattle must prepare for the possibility of Howell having to make his first start of the season in Smith’s absence and do everything it can to prepare him for the first-team offense in hopes of better results. Should that happen, despite his hard work in relief Sunday night, Macdonald has the utmost confidence in the third-year signal-caller to step in if asked in more ideal circumstances.

That’s why we have Sam to help us win games when he needs it. But you see, the situation is difficult. He hasn’t played yet this year. We have faith in Sam. Guy is a great player. If he gets another chance, he will do a great job.

Seahawks C Olu Oluwatimi doubts to return against Packers

Ken Walker III headlines Seahawks Inactives vs. Packers on SNF

5 storylines to watch in the Seahawks’ Week 15 game against the Packers

Seahawks promote RB George Holani to game against Packers at SNF