Seahawks have ‘some’ concern Jadeveon Clowney’s still hurting. But Bobby Wagner will play
The most important games of the season are upon the Seahawks. The playoffs are imminent.
And their top player at their most important position group can’t get on the practice field, let alone play in games.
Seattle (11-3) on Friday listed three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney doubtful to play in Sunday’s NFC West game against Arizona (4-9-1). The Seahawks need to win it to stay on track for possible home-field advantage throughout the conference’s postseason.
Clowney missed last weekend’s win over the Panthers with a nasty flu that forced the team to keep him from flying on the team plane to North Carolina. Yet even that week free from football did not help Clowney’s core-muscle injury he got Nov. 11 while dominating the win at San Francisco. He may need abdominal surgery after this season; he convinced a specialist in Philadelphia last month to hold off on an operation so he could play out this season, the final one of his contract.
Clowney has played in only two of four games since that visit to Dr. William Meyers Nov. 22. He’s likely to miss his third game in five weeks Sunday.
Carroll acknowledged he has concern that Clowney isn’t getting better despite the time off this month.
“Yeah, yeah. Some,” Carroll said. “If he can’t make it back he can’t make it back. We’ve just got to take care of him. Maybe with the right combination of rest and all that we’ll get it done.
“We’ve got to see if he can elevate that here in the next couple days, surprise us. That’s why we’ve got him listed (as doubtful),” the coach said. “We didn’t get much out of him practice-wise (again this week); just couldn’t go yet.
“It’s just over time it’s been a problem. Just can’t get going yet during the week. We are looking at giving him the days off to see if the rest would help him by game day.”
Clowney is a big deal to Seattle’s postseason chances.
He plowed through every 49er in his way, including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, last month in the victory that sent the Seahawks to the top of the division and conference. Clowney had a sack, five tackles, five of Seattle’s 10 hits on the quarterback that night, plus a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Carroll called it one of the best performances by a Seahawks defensive lineman in years.
In the week-four win against the Cardinals in Arizona, Clowney broke the game open by tipping a screen pass by rookie Kyler Murray to himself and returning the interception 27 yards for the first touchdown of his six-year career (the first five were with Houston, until his trade to Seattle Sept. 1). That score put the Seahawks ahead 10-3 and sparked the only easy game Seattle’s had this season, 27-10 at Arizona Sept. 29.
The pass rush as a whole turned around the Seahawks’ season over the last month and a half. Before Clowney sparked the five-sack breakout against the 49ers Nov. 11, Seattle was 25th in the league in sacks. Then they pressured Garoppolo and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz while the Niners and Eagles committed eight turnovers combined in consecutive games, both Seahawks wins on the road.
When Seattle had no pass rush at Los Angeles two games ago, no sacks of Jared Goff, the Rams shredded the Seahawks’ defense while taking a 21-3 lead in the second quarter of a 28-12 win Dec. 8.
That’s Seattle only defeat in the last seven games.
The Seahawks need pressure on Murray Sunday to help their iffy secondary that is likely to be missing Quandre Diggs. The free safety who has reformed the defense since his arrival from Detroit in a trade in late October is doubtful to play against the Cardinals.
Carroll made Diggs sound very doubtful.
“We have not been able to even get him on the field,” the coach said.
Diggs sustained a high-ankle sprain in the first half of the win over Carolina last weekend. That is usually a multiple-week injury. Tha makes him an unknown to play next week in what will be the NFC West championship game against the 49ers at CenturyLink Field.
Second-year man Rasheem Green, who has become the team’s sack leader with four in Clowney’s absence, plus rookie first-round draft choice L.J. Collier are poised for larger roles if Clowney doesn’t play again Sunday. Collier is coming off the most snaps played of his career at Carolina.
Wagner, Ansah ready to play
The Seahawks’ good news: Bobby Wagner and Ziggy Ansah aren’t even on the injury report. They will play against Arizona.
Wagner sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter of the Panthers game. The All-Pro linebacker named to his sixth Pro Bowl this week watched Carolina score two touchdowns in less than 2 minutes with him on the sidelines helmet on, hands on hips.
“Bobby looks fine,” Carroll said.
Ansah, the 2015 Pro Bowl pass rusher, has been inactive the last two games because a nerve issue in his neck. It may be related to the shoulder surgery the 30-year-old defensive end had 12 months ago. That surgery ended his six-year career with the Lions.
“Ziggy had his best week throughout the whole season. This was the best week that he put together,” Carroll said. “He’s been working out hard. He’s the heaviest and strongest he’s been since he’s been with us.
“Everything looks really positive. I’m really fired up for him to have a chance to get back in there and do some good stuff.”
Wait-and-see on two other starters
Carroll said strongside linebacker Mychal Kendricks, the team’s best blitzer with three sacks this season, and starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin will be game-time decisions on playing Sunday. The Seahawks list both as questionable.
They have strained hamstrings.
Kendricks has been hurting since making 13 solo tackles in the win over his former Eagles almost a full month ago.
Griffin got hurt in the Panthers game five days ago.
