Though he was short on details, Macdonald didn’t seem to expect Smith would be back on the field Friday.

“I don’t know about tomorrow, but we’ll see what comes out of when he goes and sees the doc,” the first-year head coach said.

With Smith sidelined, backups Sam Howell and P.J. Walker have manned the job in the last two sessions. Though he clarified Smith’s health issues stemmed from Tuesday’s practice, the coach did not have any additional information to provide prior to Thursday’s night’s anticipated examination.

After two seasons spent behind Russell Wilson in Seattle, Smith took the reins of the team in 2022, compiling a career-best campaign in which he threw for 4,282 yards and a 30-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. That showing earned Smith a three-year, $75 million extension with the team, securing him as Wilson’s successor for the near future.

Smith experienced a slight regression in 2023, throwing for 3,624 yards and a 20-9 TD-INT ratio while also missing two games. Seattle failed to reach the playoffs, leading to a parting of ways between the club and longtime coach Pete Carroll.

Macdonald will need his quarterback at full strength as they enter their first season working together in the Pacific Northwest. He’ll likely be hoping for good news Thursday night.