Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said that quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) will not play on Sunday against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. "I hate closing the door on any opportunity, but it's going to be really hard for him," Carroll said. Smith suffered a serious ankle injury in the Week 17 loss to the New York Giants and won't suit up for a meaningless contest to close out the regular season. With the 35-year-old veteran wrapping up a brutal first year in the desert, backup Kenny Pickett is expected to start this weekend. Aidan O'Connell could also end up splitting time with Pickett against KC. Smith was one of the worst starting QBs in football in 2025, completing 67.4% of his 448 pass attempts for 3,205 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-leading 17 interceptions in 15 starts.
Dec 31, 2025 3:41 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday that quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) doesn't have a high-ankle sprain, but the injury is still significant, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Smith left in the second half of Sunday's loss to the New York Giants and never returned. It was initially reported that the 35-year-old signal-caller suffered a high-ankle sprain, although Carroll has refuted that. Still, with one week left in the 2025 season, it seems unlikely that Smith will play in the Week 18 regular-season finale this Sunday against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Smith has been a massive failure in his first year with the Raiders, going 2-13 in his 15 starts with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions. Backup Kenny Pickett will most likely get the start this weekend in a meaningless game against KC.
Dec 29, 2025 3:43 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain following Sunday's Week 17 loss against the New York Giants, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Smith suffered the injury during the fourth quarter while attempting to make a play on a Giants interception return. The veteran quarterback has found himself involved in several of those plays this year, as he leads the entire NFL with 17 interceptions. High-ankle sprains are typically multiple-week injuries, and even if Smith had a chance to play next week, it's tough to imagine the eliminated Raiders would rush him back. Kenny Pickett should start at quarterback in Vegas' regular-season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Raiders lose, they would clinch the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dec 28, 2025 8:34 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 17 loss against the New York Giants. He was initially listed as questionable before being downgraded to out. The veteran signal-caller finished this game with a 71.4% completion rate, 176 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and two interceptions. He also took three sacks. Smith entered this game with the most interceptions in the NFL, and his total only grew prior to his early exit. He has been one of the lowest-scoring fantasy quarterbacks in 2025, keeping him on the waiver wire in most leagues. Smith, who injured himself while tackling on a Giants interception return, wouldn't be a reliable fantasy option against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, even if he's cleared to play.
Dec 28, 2025 7:19 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) is questionable to return for Sunday's game against the New York Giants due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the fourth quarter after limping off the field. The fact that the Giants have a double-digit lead in the final quarter likely means that Smith is done for the day. He completed 20 of 28 passing attempts for 176 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions before leaving this contest. Backup Kenny Pickett will take over under center and could potentially start in Week 18 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs if Smith is unable to play. Smith's season ending early due to injury would be a fitting end to a dismal first year in Las Vegas.
Dec 28, 2025 6:45 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) returned to the field in Week 16, completing 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 201 yards for two touchdowns and one interception in a 23-21 loss to the Houston Texans. However, his interception early in the first quarter was costly, as the stalwart Texans defense returned it for a touchdown of their own. The 35-year-old quarterback spread the ball around to his pass catchers and kept his team competitive against the heavily favored Houston squad. Smith did end up taking three sacks, but this was his fewest since Week 9. The Raiders take on the New York Giants at home in Week 17, which is a top-five matchup for quarterbacks. The veteran play caller remains viable in 2QB or Superflex leagues in need of a starter, given this favorable matchup.
Dec 21, 2025 8:18 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) will return this Sunday on the road in Houston against the top-rated Texans defense in Week 16. He practiced in full all week and was removed from the team's injury report heading into Sunday's game. Smith has failed to pass over 175 yards in five of his last eight starts, and the Texans have held opposing quarterbacks to a league-best 12.9 fantasy points per game this season. In his previous start in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos, Smith completed 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 116 yards and one touchdown. In Week 16, the veteran quarterback will need to rely on rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers for short, quick passes as the Texans' defense allows quarterbacks a mere 2.73 seconds to throw, which is tied for first in the league. Only desperate two-QB Superflex league fantasy managers should consider the 35-year-old Smith as a starter in Week 16.
Dec 20, 2025 7:20 AM EST
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) will start on Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Smith practiced in full every day this week and will return in Week 16 after sitting out last week's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a right shoulder injury. The 35-year-old has struggled this season, with the second-most interceptions and tied for the most sacks taken, but he is an upgrade over Kenny Pickett, who led the Raiders to the lowest total yards (75) in any NFL game this season last week against the Eagles. Smith will return for another brutal matchup in Week 16 against the vaunted Houston Texans defense, and profiles only as a desperation play in superflex leagues.
Dec 19, 2025 5:18 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) appears to be on his way to suiting up this Sunday on the road in Houston against the Texans in Week 16 after practicing in full for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Head coach Pete Carroll said earlier this week that there was "a good chance" that Smith would be active this weekend after he sat out last week's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos. Kenny Pickett fell flat against his former team, but Smith hasn't been much better in his 13 starts in his first year with the Raiders, completing 67% of his passes for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Against the top-rated Texans defense, the 35-year-old Smith should only be thrown into starting lineups if you're desperate in two-QB superflex leagues.
Dec 18, 2025 6:31 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Wednesday that there's "a good chance" that quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) returns to start this Sunday against the Houston Texans in Week 16, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Smith suffered a right-shoulder injury in the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos and did not play in Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Backup Kenny Pickett couldn't lead the Raiders to any points, and thus the 35-year-old Smith will get his starting gig back this weekend in an extremely difficult matchup on the road against the Texans, who have the best defense in the NFL. It's good news for the Raiders' offensive skill players, but for fantasy football, Smith will be a low-end QB2, at best, in superflex leagues in Week 16 if he returns. Smith has led one of the worst offenses in the league in 2025 in his first year in Vegas, throwing for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his 13 starts. UPDATE: Smith returned to Wednesday's practice.
Dec 17, 2025 4:06 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) has a chance to return to practice this week and play in the team's Week 16 game against the Texans, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Smith was unable to practice in any capacity leading up to the Raiders' Week 15 contest with the Eagles and was officially ruled out on Saturday, leaving Kenny Pickett to make his first start for Las Vegas. Pickett was unable to throw for even 65 yards in the shutout loss to the Eagles, rendering all Raiders players unusable for fantasy. Carroll noted that the team will know more about Smith's status on Wednesday. Whether or not he's able to suit up carries major fantasy implications for managers who were able to slip into the semifinals with Brock Bowers or Ashton Jeanty and are now wondering if they'll need to make the difficult decision to leave them on the bench.
Dec 15, 2025 2:59 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) was unable to practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 15 contest this Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles, according to the team's website. Kenny Pickett will draw his first start with the Raiders against his old team in potentially snowy conditions, making him a desperation QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues. Smith injured his right throwing shoulder in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos, although it's not considered a serious injury, and he could make it back next week against the Houston Texans. However, if Pickett plays well this weekend, the Raiders could bench the struggling Smith for the final three games of the year. The 35-year-old Smith hasn't had much help from his offensive line, but he's been one of the worst starting QBs in the NFL this year, completing 67% of his passes for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and a league-high 14 interceptions while taking a league-high 49 sacks.
Dec 12, 2025 5:47 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) missed practice for the second straight day on Thursday, per ESPN's Ryan McFadden. Smith was forced to exit early from the Raiders' Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos due to shoulder and back injuries and appears to be trending towards missing the team's Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 35-year-old has struggled mightily in his first season in Las Vegas, throwing for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions across 13 starts. Kenny Pickett took over under center after Smith left against the Broncos and played well, completing eight of 11 pass attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown. Still, Pickett will be tough for fantasy managers to trust if forced into action in Week 15 against Philadelphia, even in two-quarterback formats.
Dec 11, 2025 4:49 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder), who is dealing with a right-shoulder injury, is unlikely to start on Sunday on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smith will not practice on Wednesday after injuring his right shoulder in the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Smith's injury puts Kenny Pickett in line to start this weekend against his former team. The severity of the 35-year-old's shoulder injury is unclear. Smith has been one of the worst starting QBs in the NFL in 2025 in his first year in Vegas, completing 67% of his pass attempts for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns, and a league-leading 14 interceptions in 13 starts. He's also been sacked a league-high 49 times. If Pickett comes in and plays well, it wouldn't be a surprise if Smith is benched for the final three games.
Dec 10, 2025 3:32 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said that he didn't have an update on Monday on quarterback Geno Smith's right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. "I won't know for a couple of days," Carroll said. Smith injured his fingers and shoulder in Week 14, but it was his right-shoulder injury that knocked him out of the game in the second half, and he never returned. The 35-year-old apparently avoided serious damage to his throwing shoulder, but the lack of an update suggests Smith's availability for Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles is up in the air. At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the struggling Raiders give backup Kenny Pickett his first start of the year against his former team. Smith has been a bust in his first year in Vegas, completing 67% of his passes for 2,648 yards and 16 touchdowns. He leads the league in interceptions (16) and sacks taken (49).
Dec 8, 2025 6:48 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder) was ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos due to a shoulder injury that he suffered in the fourth quarter. Smith received tape on his fingers for abrasions he suffered earlier in the game, but ultimately it was a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the 24-17 loss. The veteran quarterback continued to play through that until suffering a shoulder injury. Smith landed hard on his shoulder and was immediately taken to the locker room. Kenny Pickett took over under center for the rest of Sunday's game. Smith completed 13 of 21 passing attempts for 116 yards and one touchdown before exiting the game. It's unclear at the moment if he'll be ready to play against the Philadelphia Eagles next week, but even if he is, the Raiders might decide to turn to Pickett or Aidan O'Connell under center.
Dec 7, 2025 7:00 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder) is questionable to return after suffering a shoulder injury in the second half of Sunday's game against the division-rival Denver Broncos. Smith was taken to the ground and landed hard on his shoulder in the second half, which resulted in his departure from the contest. He was replaced by Kenny Pickett, with Aidan O'Connell serving as the emergency third QB. Smith completed 13 of 21 passing attempts for 116 yards and one touchdown before hurting his shoulder. With less than five minutes left in this game, it's probably unlikely that Smith will return. If Smith is unable to play next week, Pickett would likely make the start in Week 15 versus his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dec 7, 2025 6:41 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (foot) was listed on the injury report this week with a foot injury, but fully practiced on Thursday and Friday and heads into Sunday's matchup against the Denver Broncos without an injury designation. Smith struggled mightily in his first meeting against Denver back in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football, completing 16 of 26 passes for 143 yards and one interception while taking six sacks. That's been a common theme for the 35-year-old signal caller in his first season in Las Vegas. He is tied for the league lead with 14 interceptions and has taken the second most sacks with 46. Smith is only viable in superflex or 2QB leagues, ranked as RotoBaller's QB28 in Week 14.
Dec 6, 2025 4:15 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (foot) practiced in full on Thursday. This was an improvement for the veteran quarterback after he had logged a limited practice session on Wednesday. Assuming Smith remains a full participant on Friday, he should enter the weekend without any injury designation, leaving him on track to play in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos. In his last game against Denver, the 35-year-old had 143 passing yards, zero touchdowns, one interception, and six sacks. He has been sacked 25 times over his last four games and will remain outside the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks for Sunday's divisional battle.
Dec 4, 2025 9:03 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (foot) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a foot injury, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. It's a new injury for Smith and is something that we'll be keeping a close eye on as the team prepares for a Week 14 divisional game on Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos. The 35-year-old veteran has had a rough first season in Vegas and will be a QB3 in fantasy football if he plays this weekend against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Broncos have the most sacks in the NFL through 13 weeks, and the Raiders' offensive line has not done a good job of protecting Smith at all this year. It's a bad combination, especially if Smith's mobility is limited by his foot. In the loss to Denver on Nov. 6, Smith went 16-for-26 passing for 143 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Dec 3, 2025 7:39 PM EST
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