Shaquill Griffin out. But a chance Jamal Adams, Chris Carson, 3 other Seahawks starters go
Shaquill Griffin won’t play.
All other of the Seahawks’ many injured starters have a chance to Sunday in their key NFC West home game against the San Francisco 49ers.
That includes Jamal Adams.
Adams practiced some on Friday, and Seattle listed its All-Pro safety as officially questionable to play Sunday for the first time since he strained his groin during the team’s win over Dallas Sept. 27. He didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday as coach Pete Carroll had expected him to this week because of an illness.
“He got some work (Friday). So that’s a good sign. That’s a real good sign.”
The coach said Adams will be a gametime decision Sunday.
The team sent Adams home to separate him from teammates and the team facility Wednesday after he got sick, per the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol and precautions. He had extra COVID test and passed them, and returned to Seahawks headquarters Thursday afternoon.
Carroll acknowledged following Friday’s practice that having Adams play after just one, light practice in the last month may not be worth the risk.
“It’s a big concern,” Carroll said. “That’s a lot to ask.”
His return would help a Seahawks defense that is last in the NFL in total yards and passing yards allowed and has gotten next to no pressure on opposing quarterbacks for the month Adams has been out.
Griffin will miss Sunday’s game with the concussion and hamstring injuries he sustained last weekend in Seattle’s overtime loss at Arizona.
Of the Seahawks’ three injured running backs, Carlos Hyde looks least likely to play. He is doubtful with a strained hamstring he got celebrating a touchdown against the Cardinals last weekend.
Lead back Chris Carson is questionable with a sprained foot. He did not practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Neither did third-down back Travis Homer. He has a bruised knee and is also questionable.
Defensive end Benson Mayowa, the Seahawks’ co-leader with Adams in sacks at just two through six games, is questionable with an ankle injury he got at Arizona.
If Adams can’t start again at strong safety, Ryan Neal is supposed to again. Neal is questionable to play against San Francisco, too, though Carroll indicated Neal should be able to go. He has a hamstring issue.
“Ryan looks pretty good,” the coach said.
Jordan Simmons is likely to start at left guard for the second consecutive game on Sunday. That’s because 33-year-old veteran Mike Iupati is doubtful with his back issue.
Nickel defensive back Ugo Amadi is also doubtful with another hamstring injury. Options to replace him as the fifth defensive back in passing situations include former Packers starter Damarious Randall, reserve Linden Stephens—and former 49ers defensive back D.J. Reed.
A new nickel?
Carrol said Reed “is ready to play” after being out rehabilitating a torn pectoral muscle he sustained in the offseason while still with San Francisco. The 49ers waived him off their non-football-injury list at the end of the preseason. He had played in 31 of 32 games for the Niners in 2018 and ‘19.
The Seahawks signed Reed last month on something of a layaway plan.
With Griffin out and Amadi unlikely to play, that layaway plan may be coming due.
“Really excited...if he gets that opportunity, he is ready to roll,” Carroll said.
”He’s got extraordinary quickness.”
Reed has played nickel defensive back and safety.
“He’s had an excellent week,” Carroll said. “He really is right in the middle of the plan. He’s really jacked to carry the load, if that would be what happens in this thing.
“Later, as the week wore on, I was trying to take care of him, didn’t want to overwork him. He wanted to take every snap.”
This story was originally published October 30, 2020 at 1:28 PM.
