Geno Smith Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks were without starting quarterback Geno Smith on Sunday afternoon as he continues to deal with a groin injury. And after the game, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll broke down the team’s decision to hold him out of Sunday’s game.

During his postgame press conference, Pete Carroll said that Geno Smith “wanted to go out there and slug it out,” but that it was the right decision for the team to hold him out.

“He ran around a little bit and threw the ball, but he couldn’t go,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said according to John Boyle of the team website. “He couldn’t go in one direction with any confidence. If he could have, he would have played for sure. He was absolutely of the mindset to go, and he came out early today and went through an extensive workout. He got a lot of stuff done under control, but he didn’t have it. He didn’t have the ability to push in one direction. That’s classic for a groin injury.

“So, it just wasn’t the right thing to do to throw him out there under those circumstances. He didn’t call it off. He made me call him off. He wanted to go.”

Carroll did not commit to whether or not Smith will be able to play next week.

In Smith’s place, Drew Locks started the game and went 22 of 31 through the air for 269 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

[Seattle Seahawks]