Duane Brown, George Fant playing for Seahawks at Green Bay. Two veteran starters are not
The Seahawks’ offensive line is (almost) back to full working order.
Pro Bowl veteran left tackle Duane Brown was active for Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game at Green Bay, playing for the first time in four games following knee surgery.
George Fant had also been questionable, with a groin injury he got the previous week starting for Brown in Seattle’s wild-card game at Philadelphia. Fant was active Sunday.
Brown playing allowed Fant to go back to his usual role as an extra blocking tight end for running backs Travis Homer and Marshawn Lynch.
Fant played an average of 17 snaps per game in 12 games during the regular season as a blocking tight end, but had to give up that role the previous two games starting for Brown.
But the Seahawks were minus one starting lineman against the Packers. Left guard Mike Iupati was inactive because of a nerve issue in his neck. Jamarco Jones, usually a tackle, started for the second consecutive game—and second time in his career—at left guard.
Defensive end Ziggy Ansah was inactive with the same injury as Iupati. That meant a larger role in the pass rush for Rasheem Green and Quinton Jefferson helping three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
Ansah has been inactive for seven of Seattle’s 18 games this season, including Sunday’s playoff one.
Clowney played his third consecutive game with a core-muscle injury that will likely require surgery after the season.
Rookie safety Marquise Blair was inactive. He injured an ankle in practice this past week. The second-round draft choice had been a sixth, dime defensive back in long-yardage situations recently.
The rest of the Seahawks inactives were not surprised: rookie defensive end and first-round draft choice L.J. Collier (a healthy scratch for the seventh time this season), backup offensive tackle Chad Wheeler, not needed with Brown and Fant playing, rookie wide receiver John Ursua and backup guard Kyle Fuller.
This story was originally published January 12, 2020 at 2:39 PM.
