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Geno Smith injury update: Raiders QB faces flak after ‘dirty hit’ vs Broncos; Nik Bonitto reacts

Geno Smith faced flak even after he returned following a ‘dirty hit’ vs the Denver Broncos on Thursday.

Published on: Nov 7, 2025, 09:43:44 IST
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Geno Smith faced flak even after he returned following a ‘dirty hit’ vs the Denver Broncos on Thursday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback, who absorbed as many as five sacks in the first half alone, went down awkwardly after a tackle by Nik Bonitto, appearing to injure his leg on what initially looked like a harmless scramble. He was visibly in pain.

Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders is looked over on the field after a play against Denver Broncos (Getty Images via AFP)
Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders is looked over on the field after a play against Denver Broncos (Getty Images via AFP)

After spending time in the blue medical tent, Smith tested his knee on the sideline, doing light jogging as trainers evaluated him. Despite the injury, he eventually returned to the field to try and finish the game. At the time, Las Vegas trailed by just three points.

Reacting to Smith's injury, Bonitto just looked on.

With Geno Smith out, Kenny Pickett took over as QB. Pickett remains the only fully healthy quarterback currently on the roster, with Cam Miller on the practice squad and Aidan O’Connell still on injured reserve.

However, Smith still faced flak on social media. “Take Geno Smith out of the game, please,” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

Another person noted that the Raiders QB has thrown the most interceptions this season, at 12.

The Las Vegas Raiders rolled the dice on Geno Smith this offseason, hoping his veteran presence would stabilize the offense. But halfway through the year, that gamble has yet to deliver. Smith has struggled to find consistency. The Raiders were 2-6 coming into the Broncos game.

Smith’s condition will be closely monitored in the coming days, as the Raiders cannot afford to lose another starting quarterback in what’s already been a bruising season.

Raiders QB depth chart

Geno Smith

Kenny Pickett

Cam Miller (practice squad)

  • Yash Nitish Bajaj
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yash Nitish Bajaj

    Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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