Seven starters miss practice. But more than meets the eye on Seahawks’ injury report
Seven starters missed practice the Thursday before another key game in their playoff chase. That isn’t optimal.
Yet there is more than meets the eye to Seattle’s latest practice-participation report.
Quandre Diggs has a high-ankle sprain. He got that only four days ago, in the team’s win at Carolina. Those are usually multiple-week injuries. So it’s highly unlikely the starting free safety who has been so important since arriving in a trade from Detroit in late October will play Sunday’s NFC West home game against Arizona.
“I don’t know how he’s going to do,” coach Pete Carroll said.
Bobby Wagner’s sprained ankle is less severe. The All-Pro linebacker stood on the sidelines for the final 7 minutes of last weekend’s game with his helmet on and hands on hips at the edge of the sideline, as if he wanted to go back in. He did not, and Seattle’s defense with six injury fill-ins gave up two late touchdowns to the Panthers.
Asked how he feels physically, Wagner smiled.
“Physically, and mentally, I’m amazing,” he said.
“I am probable/questionable. So, we’ll see.”
Wagner, Diggs, Jadeveon Clowney and Al Woods were at the back of warm-ups watching teammates jog through drills at the start of Thursday’s practice.
Clowney, the team’s top pass rusher, has recovered from the nasty flu that prevented him from boarding the team’s plane to Charlotte, N.C. last week. He has been playing through a core-muscle injury he got while dominating the win at San Francisco Nov. 11, the victory that has Seattle (11-3) atop the division and conference right now. Clowney’s surgery may require surgery after the season.
He likely feels the urgency to get back to playing. His contract ends after this season.
Woods, a key run-stopping defensive tackle this season, has an ankle injury. He’s played in every game this season.
Mychal Kendricks has missed the last two games with a strained hamstring he got while making 13 solo tackles at Philadelphia Nov. 24. The strongside linebacker and effective blitzer this season (three sacks, second on the team) has watched rookie Cody Barton start for him the last two games.
Left tackle Duane Brown has been getting mid-week rest routinely this season following biceps and knee pain. He has started all but two games this season, and all games since mid-October.
Ziggy Ansah fully participated in practice for the second consecutive day. He’s done that in previous week, too; the Seahawks are practicing lightly in no pads, as usual, this late in the season. Ansah has missed the last two games, giving second-year man Rasheem Green the opportunity to become Seattle’s sack leader with four.
Tight end Luke Willson practiced again, on a limited basis. It appears the veteran will play for the first time in five games, since he strained his hamstring in the win over the 49ers last month.
