Now it’s Jadeveon Clowney with the flu. But 2 other keys to Seahawks’ pass rush practice
Jadeveon Clowney’s latest ailment: becoming the latest Seahawk to get the flu.
The three-time Pro Bowl defensive end and top pass rusher already was hurting, playing through a core-muscle injury that might require surgery after the season. Wednesday, he missed practice with the flu, which has been going through the team’s locker room for weeks.
At least 10 players have been affected. Players have been advised to fist-bump people instead of shaking their hands. Cornerback Tre Flowers wore a surgical mask through practices two weeks ago and was throwing up during them.
Asked if any other players besides Clowney have gotten sick this week, coach Pete Carroll said: “He’s the only guy that I know of right now.”
Ziggy Ansah, Clowney’s bookend edge-rushing partner, practiced again on a limited basis with the neck-nerve issue. That’s four practices out of four for Ansah since he got hurt. Yet he was unable to play last weekend in Seattle’s loss at the Los Angeles Rams.
“He’s got a chance, a real good chance to be OK,” Carroll said. “But he has to still prove it. It’s a strength issue right now. We’ll know when we know.”
The reason for urgency on Ansah and Clowney: the Seahawks need their pass rush for Sunday’s game at Carolina (5-8), just as they need to win their final three regular-season games to win the NFC West. Seattle’s defense hasn’t been the same the last two games, allowing 58 points, including 21 in the first half against the Rams. It’s been because of zero sacks by the Seahawks’ defense against Minnesota and L.A.
Before that: eight sacks against San Francisco and Philadelphia, 33 points allowed, eight turnovers forced — and two wins.
Mychal Kendricks has been another asset in Seattle’s pass rush this season, blitzing from his outside-linebacker position. Carroll said Kendricks wasn’t going to practice Wednesday because of the strained hamstring that kept him out of the Rams game, but Kendricks did practice on a limited basis.
“We have to wait and see all the way until the end of the week if he can make it back,” Carroll said.
Kendricks, Clowney and Ansah should be breaking down locker-room doors to play against the Panthers Sunday.
Kyle Allen is Carolina’s fill-in at quarterback since Cam Newton went on injured reserve months ago. Allen has been sacked a painful 44 times in 11 games.
Shaquill Griffin has a new injury listing, a hamstring issue. The starting cornerback practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.
Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown got his usual Wednesday off. The 34-year-old has been playing with issues in his biceps and knee.
Fullback Nick Bellore has missed the last couple games with a quadriceps strain. He practiced some on Wednesday, and Carroll said Bellore has a chance to play Sunday.
Offensive tackle George Fant has a new knee injury after playing 13 of 67 plays against the Rams in his usual role as an extra, blocking tight end. Fant practiced on a limited basis.
So did starting defensive tackle Al Woods. He showed up on the injury report with the ankle injury he got three games ago at Philadelphia.
Backup tight end Luke Willson practiced. He’s missed the last three games but has been telling Carroll and anyone who will listen he’s playing against the Panthers.
“He’s chomping at the bit to play this week. He’s politicking. Like those guys in Washington D.C., he’s working it,” Carroll said. “He ran well today. He was really pumped up about it. He told me at least four times how well he looked in his workouts.”
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 4:52 PM.
