The Seattle Seahawks desperately need to end their losing streak in Week 14 when they face the San Francisco 49ers, but they may have try to do so without their starting quarterback.

Geno Smith was listed as questionable with a groin injury, which he sustained during Thursday's practice.

Head coach Pete Carroll was non-committal on whether Smith would play against the Niners as Seattle aims to avoid falling below .500. 

Seahawks face nervous wait

"He just tweaked his groin a little bit yesterday, just kind of stumbled over somebody," Carroll said of how Smith sustained his injury.

Asked if he would play against the 49ers, Carroll replied: "We'll see. We rested him today."

Carroll would not divulge any more information when pressed on if his previous comment meant Smith is likely to be a gameday decision, adding: "Yeah, we're going to wait and see."

While Carroll's desire to keep his cards close to his chest is understandable, it doesn't breed much positivity about Smith's potential availability for a game the Seahawks need, and their move earlier on Friday to sign Sean Mannion to the practice squad is indicative of a team preparing to be without their starter.

Carroll bullish on backup

In the event of Smith being unavailable, backup Drew Lock would step into the breach and start under center for Seattle.

Lock filled in during the second half of the Seahawks' Week 11 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams when Smith suffered a bruised tricep muscle.

His brief time on the field did not go well, with Lock completing just two of his six passes for three yards and an interception before Smith retuned for the final drive.

Yet Carroll expressed great confidence in Lock ahead of what could be his first start for the Seahawks.

"He's been waiting for this opportunity, looking forward to it and preparing for it," Carroll said. "If this comes to pass, then he is as ready as he can get."

In the Week 13 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys, Smith threw for 334 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, with the Seahawks offense appearing to have found its rhythm after failing to score a touchdown against the 49ers on Thanksgiving.

Smith being out would put that at risk, though the Seahawks look set to have the benefit of both their top two running backs being available.

Walker could make return

The Seahawks have been without Kenneth Walker III for each of the last two games with an oblique injury, while Zach Charbonnet left the loss to Dallas with a knee bruise.

They are each listed as questionable, but both practiced in full on Friday and Carroll said: "Both of those guys looked pretty good. They looked pretty good. We've got to see what happens tomorrow, see how they feel and all that, but both guys worked today."

Also questionable are defensive lineman Jarran Reed (hamstring), linebacker Jordan Brooks (ankle), cornerback Tre Brown (heel) and receiver Dee Eskridge (ribs).

Reed and Brown appear the most likely of that quartet to play, with Carroll stating the former was simply given a day to rest his injury as he missed Friday's practice.

The Seahawks are outside of the NFC playoff places going into Week 14 at 6-6. They are three games behind the 49ers (9-3) in the NFC West. A defeat would leave them with an uphill climb going into their Week 15 meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles and essentially hand the division to the Niners.

Final 49ers injury report for Week 14, vs. Seahawks

One starter is definitely out.