Gino Smith gets a nod as the Seattle Seahawks start their first week in QB vs Denver Broncos

Jeno Smith beat it Drew Lock in a quarterback competition at the Seattle Seahawks and will begin the team’s opening game on September 12 against Russell Wilson and Denver Broncos, Pete Carroll said on Friday.

Carroll announced after the end of the Seahawks’ preseason—a 27-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys—and said he informed the team. Smith started Friday night, leading a field goal-scoring drive in his singles series before making way for Locke, who threw in a touchdown pass and three interceptions, two of which weren’t entirely his fault.

Carroll said throughout that Smith was ahead of Luke, noting several times that Wilson’s former backup had an advantage in terms of his understanding of the Seattle offense.

“He won it,” Carroll said. “He won the job.”

Smith said he learned of Carroll’s decision when the coach addressed the team in the dressing room.

“Obviously I’m grateful for this opportunity and thankful,” said Smith, who has supported Wilson for the past three seasons and made three appearances last year while Wilson was injured. “But I have a lot of work to do.”

Smith captured the vast majority of the Seahawks’ first-team representatives this summer and started all three of their games pre-season, even though Lock was due to start game two before he tested positive for COVID-19.

“I have no question about his playability,” Carroll said of Locke, who was acquired from Denver in the Wilson deal. “I think he will be a great footballer soon.”