Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald drops major Geno Smith injury update for Week 16 after exiting game vs. Packers 

On Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks' quest to earn a playoff berth was dealt a blow as they suffered a 30-13 blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field. They could have reclaimed the top spot in the NFC West with a win but are now second behind the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams are 8-6; however, LA beat Seattle 26-20 in Week 9 and holds the tiebreaker.

If the defeat to the Packers wasn't bad enough, the Seahawks also had to contend with quarterback Geno Smith suffering an injury. The veteran suffered a knee injury late in the third quarter and couldn't hide his frustration when he was forced to exit the game.

There was genuine concern that Smith would miss time due to the injury, which would have severely damaged Seattle's hopes of earning a playoff berth. However, during his media availability on Monday, head coach Mike Macdonald provided a positive update about the quarterback's ailment.

He revealed that the veteran quarterback's knee did not suffer any structural damage and he was scheduled to take first-team reps in practice this week. Macdonald's update suggests the Seahawks plan to field Smith in their critical Week 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Seahawks Playoff Odds: Geno Smith and Seattle have no margin for error

The Seahawks will certainly be ecstatic about Geno Smith's injury update considering they are involved in a battle for the NFC West title is too close to call. The Rams and Seahawks are both 8-6 while the Arizona Cardinals are right behind them at 7-7. The 6-8 San Francisco 49ers have a chance mathematically, but their odds are minuscule.

LA not only has the tiebreaker over Seattle but also has a 3-1 record against their NFC rivals. They are scheduled to face the Cardinals in Week 17 and the Seahawks in Week 18. If they win all three games, they'll win the division. However, if the Rams win their next two and Seattle fails to beat either the Vikings or the Chicago Bears, the Week 18 game between them will be a dead rubber.

Seattle has no room for error while LA can afford to drop one of its next two games, beat the Seahawks in Week 18 and clinch the division. Nothing short of a perfect 3-0 run will likely be enough for Geno Smith and Co. to earn a playoff berth. It's a tall order for Seattle, but they'll trust themselves, especially if their quarterback is healthy.

Do you think the Seattle Seahawks can manage to squeeze themselves into the playoffs this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.