Geno Smith has long been regarded as a serviceable quarterback, not elite, but reliable enough to give his team a fighting chance. Unfortunately for the Las Vegas Raiders, his current stretch of play is far from that expectation. The veteran passer, who once left a solid impression with the Seattle Seahawks, appears lost in the desert, unable to find the rhythm or consistency that once defined his best moments in the league.
Now in Las Vegas, Smith has struggled week after week, to the point that both Pete Carroll and Tom Brady, key figures who vouched for his leadership and competitive edge, are reportedly concerned. His erratic decision-making, poor reads, and frequent turnovers have raised questions inside the organization about whether it’s time to move on from him as the starter.
As frustration grows among fans and coaches, a new rumor has surfaced suggesting that the Raiders are beginning to lose patience. According to NFL analyst Dov Kleiman,
RUMORS: The Raiders are ‘mildly’ concerned with Geno Smith.
He added,
And know he needs to play better soon, per @JFowlerESPN. Geno leads the NFL with NINE interceptions.” Those numbers alone paint a grim picture for the veteran, whose contract once seemed like a safe bet.
Smith signed a two-year deal with Las Vegas after productive seasons in Seattle and thanks to his close relationship with Carroll. But the quarterback’s consistently poor showings are now unsustainable. The Raiders cannot continue to rely on him if they hope to remain competitive in an already fierce AFC West.
Smith is performing worse than Garoppolo and Minshew
It is difficult to understand why the Raiders still trust Smith to lead their offense. His statistics are worse than those of previous quarterbacks harshly criticized for their own struggles, among them Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew. Both were widely condemned for inconsistent play, yet Smith’s numbers are now even lower.
The Raiders currently sit at 1-4, and Smith’s outlook appears bleak. Their most recent 40-6 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts highlighted just how dire the situation has become. Smith once again threw multiple interceptions, repeating the same mistakes that have defined his season.
Statistically, Smith leads the entire NFL in interceptions. The last Raiders quarterback to reach similar lows was Jim Plunkett in 1982, marking just how historically poor Smith’s performance has been through the early weeks.
Despite the slump, Derek Carr sends a message of encouragement
Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has shown empathy toward Smith, publicly expressing support during this tough stretch for both the player and the fan base.
Raider fans, I understand the frustration. Look, you’ve been frustrated at me before.
Carr said.
I understand. I’ve been there, but let me say this to Geno Smith. Geno, I understand frustration. I understand the tipped ball. It’s like, really, a tipped ball that gets picked, really? I understand the heart, the boiling, I understand, but guess what, Geno? You’re a good football player. Don’t forget how well you’ve played in some of these games. Don’t forget some of these throws that you’ve made.
Whether Smith can turn things around remains uncertain. The Raiders’ path to recovery will be long and bumpy, but change must come soon if they hope to salvage their season.
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