Seahawks’ injuries at practice suboptimal--but may not be as bad as it appears
Well, this is suboptimal. But it may not be as troubling as it appears.
The Seahawks’ best offensive lineman, his recent replacement and the guy they’d like to use as a extra run-blocking tight end aren’t practicing three days before their biggest game.
Duane Brown missed another practice Thursday. But the Pro Bowl veteran left tackle has done his first football work on the side this week since his minor knee surgery Dec. 23.
George Fant sat out practice for the second consecutive day with a groin injury. Fant has started the last two games for Brown, including Seattle’s victory at Philadelphia last weekend in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs.
The Seahawks want to have Fant back in his usual role as run-blocking tight end Sunday for their divisional playoff game at Green Bay. But that will only happen if Brown can play.
Rookie Travis Homer and returning hero Marshawn Lynch, Seattle’s top two running back the last two games in the wake of Chris Carson’s and Rashaad Penny’s season-ending injuries, ran for 19 yards on 18 carries combined against the Eagles. That was with Brown out, Fant in at left tackle and no one in that role of extra blocking tight end.
“It’s a factor. It’s a factor. We’ve been counting on that,” coach Pete Carroll said this week of Fant averaging 17 snaps per game over the 12 games he’s been a blocking tight end this season. “We love that part of our game. We didn’t have that. It’s a difference. ...
“When you lose some aspects of your game, you’re not sure what the factor is going to be. It didn’t help us to not have that, I know that. We love that part of our game. ...We still would’ve used George playing tight end. Being 325 pounds at tight end, there’s a factor there and we’ve learned that.”
Signs are Brown is going to try to play against the Packers. If he does, and Fant goes back to his role of blocking tight end, the Seahawks will be better equipped to do what they must against Green Bay’s 25-sack duo of Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith: run the ball.
The Seahawks remained without a second starting offensive lineman in practice Thursday. Left guard Mike Iupati was working on a side field with a trainer trying to get through a nerve issue in his neck that caused him to miss his first game this season last weekend. Jamarco Jones made his first career start at left guard against the Eagles, and would again if Iupati can’t play in Green Bay.
One day after returning to practice from a nerve issue in his neck, defensive end Ziggy Ansah was out Thursday.
Starting cornerback Tre Flowers did limited work and got a new injury listing: knee. He allowed two pass-interference penalties deep down the field to the Eagles because he was grabbing receivers and did not turn his head back to the incoming ball.The second penalty was for 39 yards and set up Philadelphia with a first down at Seattle’s 13-yard line in a 17-9 game with 4 minutes remaining.
But the Seahawks turned away the Eagles from the 16 on fourth down, when running back Miles Sanders dropped a swing pass on fourth and 13 with 2:35 left.
Carroll said he wasn’t concerned about Flowers’ flags in Philadelphia.
Besides, it’s not like he’s going to best his starting cornerback for the entire season now, in the second round of the playoffs.
“They were really just incidental calls. He’s running with the guy. He’s all over him. He just got a little grabby,” Carroll said. “They stood out. I see why they called them. They didn’t need to happen. He was in great position and he just got a little antsy when the ball was coming down, which he’s been really good about it.
“In those two instances, those were the big plays in the game really for them. Those were like two big bombs that they hit. Hit nothing up top on us, but those two plays really changed the field position and gave them the chance to get in the scoring zone.”
Oh, yes, Aaron Rodgers saw that game film. Expect the Packers quarterback to be targeting Flowers--and rookie nickel defensive back Ugo Amadi inside on passing downs, too--in Sunday’s game.
