NFL injury tracker Week 16: Seahawks’ Geno Smith expected to play, Christian Barmore back on NFI list, optimism for David Montgomery

While there were legitimate concerns about Geno Smith’s status for Week 16, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback said he is feeling good and expects to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’m getting better every day,” Smith said Thursday. “I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

Smith suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers when he went down after throwing a pass while under pressure in the third quarter. Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper hit Smith in the lower leg while Smith was still in the air. Smith landed awkwardly and was in pain on the ground after the hit.

Smith limped to the sideline and was replaced by backup quarterback Sam Howell for the rest of the game.

“I really wanted to get back out there on Sunday, but these things happen, everyone is going to fight through something and I want to be the guy known for perseverance,” Smith said. “So I want to end the season the right way. I want to make sure we get every opportunity to end it the right way.”

The veteran quarterback was not reported as injured on the Seahawks’ injury report on Friday.

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is out indefinitely after experiencing “recurring symptoms” following his blood clot diagnosis in July.

Barmore, 25, missed the first 10 games of the season, returned in Week 11 and has played in the Patriots’ past four games.

With the Patriots at 3-11 and not yet in the playoffs, Barmore’s season is likely over so he can focus on his health and a return in 2025.

Optimism for playoff return for Lions’ David Montgomery

An injured MCL appeared to end David Montgomery’s season, but the Detroit Lions running back could be back on the field sometime next month if all goes well.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Montgomery sought other opinions and will not undergo surgery to repair his MCL. He will rehabilitate the knee and hope he can return during the playoffs if the Lions make a deep run.

“Optimistic with a couple of doctors he’s seen, the last two,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Friday. “I think we can see where this goes. In any case, it sounds more optimistic.”

Montgomery was evaluated by coaches during the second quarter of Sunday’s 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. After testing his knee on the sideline, Montgomery decided to return to the game. He finished the game with five carries for four yards.

Montgomery also suffered a knee injury earlier this season in the first quarter of the Lions’ Week 6 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Although initially considered questionable after being helped off the field, Montgomery returned to the game in the second quarter.

Here’s the rest of the Week 16 injury report.

GIANTS OF NEW YORK

• G Aaron Stinnie (concussion): out

• LB Bobby Okereke (back): out

• LB Patrick Johnson (knee): out

• CB Greg Stroman (shoulder, shin): out

• CB Deonte Banks (rib): Questionable

• LB Brian Burnes (ankle, neck): Questionable

• LB Dyontae Johnson (ankle): Questionable

• C Austin Schlottmann (fibula): Doubtful

• RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (single): doubtful

ATLANTA FALKENS

• WR Casey Washington (concussion): out

• LB Lorenzo Carter (groin): Questionable

• WR KhaDarel Hodge (ribs): Questionable

DETROIT LIONS

• RB David Montgomery (knee): out

• LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck): Out

• S Brian Branch (calf): Questionable

• G Graham Glasnow (knee): Questionable

• S Ifeato Melifonwu (hand): Doubtful

CHICAGO BEARS

• G Ryan Bates (concussion): out

• RB Travis Homer (hamstring): Questionable

• DB Jaylon Johnson (illness): Questionable

• OL Teven Jenkins (calf): Questionable

• OK Braxton Jones (concussion): Questionable

• DL Gervon Dexter (knee): Questionable

CLEVELAND BROWN

• DT Shelby Harris (elbow): out

• WR Cedric Tillman (concussion): out

• CB Martin Emerson (concussion, back): Questionable

• TE David Njoku (hamstring): Questionable

• QB Jameis Winston (right shoulder): Questionable

CINCINNATI BENGALS

• DE Sam Hubbard (knee): Out

• TE Tanner Hudson (knee): out

• DT Sheldon Rankins (illness): out

• T Orlando Brown (fibula): Questionable

• G Alex Cappa (concussion): Questionable

• WR Charlie Jones (groin): Questionable

TENNESSEE TITANS

• WR Colton Dowell (knee): out

• LB Luke Gifford (concussion): out

• T Jaelyn Duncan (hamstring): Questionable

• K Nick Folk (belly): Doubtful

• LB Kenneth Murray Jr. (hamstring): doubtful

• RB Tony Pollard (ankle): Questionable

• LB Otis Reese (ankle): Questionable

• QB Will Levis (right shoulder): Questionable

INDIANAPOLIS KOLTS

• WR Alec Pierce (concussion): out

• LB EJ Speed ​​(knee): out

• CB Julius Brents (knee): out

• TE Mo Alie-Cox (hip): Questionable

• WR Ashton Dulin (ankle): Questionable

• K Matt Gay (neck): Doubtful

LOS ANGELES RAMS

NEW YORK JETS

• CB Michael Carter II (back): out

• DT Leki Fotu (knee): out

• RB Braelon Allen (back): Questionable

• G Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle): Doubtful

• DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring): Questionable

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

• DE Bryce Huff (wrist): Out

• WR Britain Covey (neck): Out

• S Sydney Brown (concussion): Questionable

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

• DT Jonathan Allen (pectoral): out

• S Jeremy Chinn (concussion): Questionable

• TE Zach Ertz (concussion, shoulder): Questionable

CARDINALS OF ARIZONA

• RB Trey Benson (single): out

• LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee): off

• OLB Jesse Luketa (thigh): out

• LB Mack Wilson (concussion): out

• CB Elijah Jones (single): out

• K Matt Prater (left knee): out

• CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (hand): Doubtful

• DT Roy Lopez (ankle): Questionable

• RB DeeJay Dallas (illness): Questionable

• G Evan Brown (neck): Questionable

CAROLINA PANTERS

• WR Xavier Legette (hip): out

• OLB Jadeveon Clowney (illness, knee): Questionable

• DE A’Shawn Robinson (knee): Questionable

• WR David Moore (concussion): Questionable

• G Robert Hunt (illness): doubtful

• WR Jalen Coker (quadriceps): Questionable

• T Ikem Ekwonu (illness): doubtful

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• DT Jalen Redmon (concussion): out

• CB Fabian Moreau (hip): out

• FB CJ Ham (ankle): Doubtful

• S Harrison Smith (foot): Questionable

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

• LB Trevis Gipson (single): out

• TE Brady Russell (foot): Out

• S K’Von Wallace (single): out

PATRIOTS OF NEW ENGLAND

• RB JaMycal Hasty (single): out

• CB Marcus Jones (hip): out

• S Kyle Dugger (ankle, illness): Questionable

• G Cole Strange (knee): Questionable

• T Caedan Wallace (ankle): Questionable

• S Jabrill Peppers (hamstring): Questionable

• DE Keion White (groin): Questionable

BUFFALO BILLS

• WR Curtis Samuel (rib): Questionable

• LB Matt Milano (groin): Questionable

• LB Baylon Spector (calf): Questionable

• LB Dorian Williams (elbow): Questionable

• CB Rasul Douglas (knee): Doubtful

• S Damar Hamlin (rib): Questionable

• S Taylor Rapp (neck): Questionable

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

• G Jordan Meredith (ankle): Questionable

• CB Sam Webb (back): Doubtful

• LB Kana’i Mauga (illness): Doubtful

• CB Nate Hobbs (illness): Questionable

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

• LT Trent Williams (ankle): out

• RB Isaac Guerendo (foot): out

• DL Nick Bosa (hip, oblique): Questionable

• LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles): Questionable

• DL Robert Beal Jr. (single): doubtful

DOLPHINS OF MIAMI

• LS Blake Ferguson (illness): out

• WR Jaylen Waddle (knee): Questionable

• WR Dee Eskridge (knee): Questionable

• LB Quinton Bell (illness): Questionable

• LT Terron Armstead (knee): Questionable

• RT Kendall Lamm (back): Doubtful

• LB Bradley Chubb (knee): Questionable

• LB Cameron Goode (knee): Questionable

• WR Tyreek Hill (wrist): Questionable

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

• WR Kameron Johnson (ankle): out

• S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee): off

• TE Cade Oton (knee): out

• LB KJ Britt (ankle): Questionable

• S Mike Edwards (hamstring): Questionable

DALLAS COWBOYS

• WR Jalen Brooks (knee): out

• CB Trevon Diggs (knee): out

• G TJ Bass (thigh): Questionable

• LB Eric Kendricks (calf): Questionable

• CB Jourdan Lewis (elbow): Questionable

• S Juanyeh Thomas (knee): Doubtful

• LB Nick Vigil (foot): Questionable

• DE Micah Parsons (illness): Questionable

NEW ORLEANS SAINT

• QB Derek Carr (left): Out

• RB Alvin Kamara (groin): out

• WR Bub Means (single): out

• WR Chris Olave (main): out

• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest, illness): Questionable

GREEN BAY PACKERS

• S Javon Bullard (single): out

• LB Quay Walker (single): out

• CB Jaire Alexander (knee): Doubtful

• CB Corey Ballentine (knee): Questionable

• TE Luke Musgrave (ankle): Questionable