The Seattle Seahawks are set to sign quarterback Geno Smith to compete for the backup job behind Russell Wilson, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.
Smith joins former first-round pick Paxton Lynch and undrafted Taryn Christion behind Wilson on the Seahawks’ quarterback depth chart.
Smith was a former second-round pick by the New York Jets back in 2013. He started 29 games in his first two seasons but was unable to prove himself as a starting caliber quarterback.
He went just 11-18 in those two years as a starter, completing 57.5 percent of his passes for 5,571 yards with 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.
Smith has started just two games over the last four years. His last start came in 2017 with the New York Giants, as he infamously came in and snapped Eli Manning’s consecutive starts streak.
Smith spent last season as Philip Rivers’ backup with the Los Angeles Chargers. He appeared in five games, going 1-of-4 for eight yards.
The Seahawks had Brett Hundley as Wilson’s backup last season after acquiring him in a trade from the Green Bay Packers. Hundley signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason.
It seems unlikely that Smith will get much — if any — playing time in Seattle. Wilson has yet to miss a game in his first seven seasons in the NFL, although he has gone out of games due to injury.
But still, it’s best to be prepared for any situation, including a potential Wilson injury. And at the very least, Smith will provide some veteran experience in the Seattle quarterback room.