The Seahawks are getting ready for a Thanksgiving showdown with the 49ers, and adding to the already big challenge of playing on a short week, they are also dealing with the fact that quarterback Geno Smith is dealing with an injury that kept him out of practice Monday.
Smith left Sunday's game against the Rams after taking a helmet to the back of the arm, causing what Seahawks coach Pete Carroll called a contusion on his triceps. He returned to the game late in the fourth quarter to lead the drive that set up an attempted game-winning field goal, but is not a sure thing to play this week.
Carroll expressed optimism Monday about Smith’s chances of facing the 49ers, saying, "We really think that he's got a great chance to make it back." But Smith still has to get through the week and make enough progress in his recovery for that to happen.
Smith said treatment on the injury has been "around the clock, all day and night just working on it, trying to get it to feel as good as it can."
As for how he felt on Tuesday, Smith said. "Had better days, I'm getting there."
Smith added that he is seeing progress from how he felt after the game.
"I feel a little bit better," he said. "I definitely feel a little bit better after a couple of days."
When asked if he'd play Thursday, however, Smith deferred to Carroll on that call.
"We'll see how it goes," he said. "It's up to coach."
If Smith is indeed able to play, he and the rest of the offense will be facing one of the NFL's toughest defenses, and an opponent that beat the Seahawks three times last season, including a wild card playoff game in Santa Clara. This year's version of the 49ers is currently 7-3 and leading Seattle in the NFC West standings, so the Seahawks know this is a big opportunity to improve their standing in the playoff race.
"Huge opportunity, huge opportunity," Smith said. "We're right in the thick of our division race, right in the think of our division race, and we've got a big chance in front of us. But it's also a big opponent, a tough opponent. They're a really good team, and we look forward to going up against these guys. I know the type of team we have, the type of guys we have, but it is a big game, because it's the next game. All of our games are big games, and this one is just our next one."
As for how much better the Seahawks are now compared to when they lost to the 49ers in January, Smith knows talking about that on a Tuesday won't mean much if they don't show it on Thanksgiving.
"We have to find out on Thursday night," Smith said. "That's a question we have to answer on Thursday night. That's a question we have to answer on Thursday night. I don't think anything I can say up here is going to help us in that regard, so we've just got to go out and execute."
The Seahawks and 49ers face off on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks fullback Dan Doornink (33) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Oct. 7, 1979. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 35-24. (AP Photo/Al Messerschmidt)
San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana (16) passes during an NFL football game against Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 25, 1985, in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 19-6. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers' Terrell Owens catches the game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia while Seattle Seahawks' Shawn Springs defends during the fourth quarter in Seattle, Monday, Oct. 14. 29, 2002. The 49ers won, 28-21. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Marcus Robertson (31) gets ready to make sure San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst (20) is stopped on Sunday, December 1, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 31-24. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks' Antonio Cochran (78) celebrates a fumble recovery by teammate safety Ken Hamlin on the first play after the 2-minute warning in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-19. At left is 49ers' Ron Stone. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers running back Kevan Barlow (32) looks for hole in line on Saturday, December 27, 2003, in San Francisco, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 24-17. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck looks for room to pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers' John Engelberger (95) and Derrick Hamilton (88) in the first quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Darrell Jackson, right, runs in for a touchdown past San Francissco 49ers' Ronnie Heard on a 33-yard pass reception in the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Seattle Seahawks' D.J. Hackett (18) grabs a touchdown pass in front of San Francisco 49ers' Shawntae Spencer in the first half on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith attempts to pass under pressure from Seattle Seahawks' Craig Terrill, right, and Rodney Bailey (95) in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-3. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws downfield while under pressure from Seattle Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson, left, in the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) cannot hold on to a pass in the second quarter as San Francisco 49ers strong safety Mark Roman defends in the second quarter Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore, center, fumbles in front of Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp in the first quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 12: Tight end Marcus Pollard #88 of the Seattle Seahawks spins after the reception against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 12, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 24-0. (AP Photo/Thomas E. Witte) Marcus Pollard
Seattle Seahawks' Josh Wilson defends as San Francisco 49ers' Isaac Bruce makes a 33-yard reception in overtime in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Seattle. The 49ers won 33-30. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones, left, carries the ball in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry (59), top, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Glen Coffee (29) during an NFL football game in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Justin Forsett in action against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ruvell Martin (82) catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements (22) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (15) against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) drives for the end zone during an NFL game against Seattle Seahawks defensive back Kam Chancellor (31) on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tries to make a tackle while blocked by Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller (86) during the NFL week 7 football game on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game 13-6. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman comes down with an interception ahead of San Francisco 49ers' wide receiver Randy Moss in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 42-13. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes against the defense of San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, left, intercepts a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) catches a 35-yard touchdown pass at 13:44 of the fourth quarter of the NFL NFC Championship playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, January 19, 2014 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 23-17. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson (10) heads downfield during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Nov. 27, 2014, in Santa Clara, Ca. The Seahawks won the game, 19-3. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Wagner, left, closes in on San Francisco 49ers' Carlos Hyde, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) drops the ball after scoring a touchdown ahead of San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite (57) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) catches the ball against San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers, 37-18. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Jeremy Lane (20) tackles San Francisco 49ers' Raheem Mostert (31) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
In this third in a series of seven photos, Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Will Redmond, left, as defensive tackle D.J. Jones (93) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sept. 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
