Jamal Adams full go. Chris Carson, Shaquill Griffin, 2 other Seahawks starters out Sunday
Let Russ Cook? Again?
It sure looks like that will be the Seahawks’ game plan—again—Sunday at Buffalo.
That’s because Seattle will again be without lead running back Chris Carson and number-two rusher Carlos Hyde. On Friday, the team ruled them officially out for the game between division leaders.
Wilson has 26 touchdown passes through seven games, second-most in NFL history. He needs four more scoring passes Sunday to tie Tom Brady’s league record for most through the first eight games of a season.
Carson hasn’t played since he sprained his foot early in Seattle’s overtime loss at Arizona two games ago.
“He’s got a sore foot. He’s got to get through it,” coach Pete Carroll said following Friday’s outdoor practice. “We’ve just go to wait it out.”
Hyde strained his hamstring in that game.
Travis Homer and rookie DeeJay Dallas are the only running backs left on the active roster.
That could change Saturday. The Seahawks signed back their 2016 draft choice Alex Collins this week. The veteran running back is on the practice squad but could be called up as one of the two promotions from the practice squad allowed for each team per game in the NFL’s COVID-19 season.
The league has a Saturday afternoon deadline to much such promotions in time for a practice-squad player to be eligible to play in Sunday’s games.
Former All-Pro run-stuffing defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison is also a candidate for a call-up from the practice squad Saturday for what would be his Seahawks debut at Buffalo. The Bills (6-2) ran 38 times for 190 yards last week in their win over New England.
“This was his best week again, on top of last. He is ready to go,” Carroll said, adding the Seahawks just need to find a spot for him on a well-playing tackle rotation now that Harrison is in football shape.
“It’s a long season. We have a lot of games yet.”
Homer is one week better on his bruised knee from the Arizona game; he practiced more this week than last, when he played just seven snaps against San Francisco.
All-Pro safety Jamal Adams is full go to start for the first time since he strained his groin Sept. 27 late in Seattle’s win over Dallas.
Carroll was asked before the team flew to Seattle if the team is going to put any restrictions on how much Adams will play in Buffalo.
“Nah, we won’t limit him, at all,” Carroll said.
Pro Bowl cornerback Shaquill Griffin (hamstring) is also out for the Bills game. Tre Flowers and Quinton Dunbar are again expected to start at cornerback.
Carroll said Griffin will get re-evaluated late next week to see if it’s possible he could play Nov. 15 at the Los Angeles Rams, or Nov. 19 versus Arizona.
Left guard Mike Iupati will miss another game with an injured back. Jordan Simmons will again start for the 33-year-old Iupati.
Defensive end Benson Mayowa, the Seahawks’ co-leader in sacks with two, will miss his second consecutive game with a sprained ankle. Carroll said it is a high-ankle sprain, ligament damage up the leg.
But two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Carlos Dunlap will be making his Seattle debut. The Seahawks traded for him two weeks ago. Then he had to pass through a six-day protocol for COVID-19 testing with his new team.
Nickel defensive back Ugo Amadi will miss his second game in a row. He has a strained hamstring. D.J. Reed and Ryan Neal are candidates to be the fifth defensive back, and maybe a sixth defensive back, in passing situations against Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen.
Neal started the last four games Adams has missed at strong safety, and impressed coaches into earning more playing time.
This story was originally published November 6, 2020 at 1:39 PM.
