Geno Smith injury: Raiders QB suffers quad contusion on ‘Thursday Night Football’ against Broncos

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith suffered a quad contusion early in the fourth quarter of Las Vegas’ “Thursday Night Football” game against the AFC West rival Broncos, according to coach Pete Carroll. He eventually re-entered the game but was clearly compromised.

Smith was trying to pass the ball when Denver standout linebacker Nik Bonitto tripped him to limit him to a one-yard play. Broncos defensive lineman Malcolm Roach then landed on Smith, who initially got up but then came back down. Smith cautiously left the field but returned after missing only two offensive plays.

“He wanted to go home in the worst possible way,” Carroll said. “He wanted to finish the game for his teammates. He got banged up in the quad, had a quad bruise or something, a bruise, whatever it was. He got hit. It’s just him fighting.”

Smith said he was in “a lot of pain” but tried to block it out.

“That’s kind of how I’m wired,” Smith said. “I never want to leave my teammates alone. I feel like it’s a big responsibility of mine to be out there and do whatever I can to help us win. I felt like I could try to hold on, and that’s what I tried to do.

Kenny Pickett played both snaps Smith missed.

In the final minutes of the game, Smith was listed as questionable — although the Raiders offense never returned to the field after that decision came to pass — and had a heating pad on his left quad. Carroll said Smith would not have returned to the game if the Raiders had managed to get the ball back.

It’s been a tough year for Smith, 35, who arrived in Las Vegas this offseason via trade and reunited with Carroll, his former Seahawks coach. Smith has thrown 12 interceptions, most in the NFL, and just 11 touchdowns, and the Raiders are 2-7.

Smith finished 16 of 26 for 143 yards, one interception and six sacks.

Raiders get mini-bye and extra day off; Their Week 11 game is “Monday Night Football” against the Cowboys.