Geno Smith faced criticism even after returning following a controversial hit during the Las Vegas Raiders' game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday. The Raiders quarterback endured up to five sacks in the first half alone.
Smith went down awkwardly after a tackle by Broncos' linebacker Nik Bonitto, appearing to injure his leg during what seemed like a routine scramble. He was taken to the blue medical tent for evaluation. On the sideline, Smith lightly jogged as trainers assessed his knee.
Despite the injury, Smith returned to the game while the Raiders were trailing by just three points.
Nik Bonitto just looked on after Smith's injury.
With Smith sidelined, Kenny Pickett stepped in as the starting quarterback. Pickett is currently the only fully healthy QB on the Raiders roster, as Cam Miller remains on the practice squad and Aidan O’Connell is on injured reserve.
The Raiders took a chance on Smith during the offseason, hoping his experience would bring stability to their offense. However, halfway through the season, that hope has yet to materialize as Smith struggles with consistency. Before facing the Broncos, the Raiders held a 2-6 record.
Summary: Despite Geno Smith’s tough season and injury setback, the Raiders continue to rely on him while facing growing criticism amid a challenging year.