Two starters iffy for Seahawks’ home opener against Titans, but Pete Carroll’s optimistic
Two new injuries to starters have them questionable for the Seahawks’ home opener.
But coach Pete Carroll made it sound as though both will play.
Left cornerback D.J. Reed has foot and calf injuries two days before he and Seattle’s defensive secondary go against Julio Jones, A.J. Brown and the Tennessee Titans’ passing game. Reed played all 76 snaps of the Seahawks’ opening win at the Indianapolis Colts last weekend.
“That just showed up during the week,” Carroll said of Reed’s pains. “He practiced (Friday), so we are in pretty good shape there.”
Left guard Damien Lewis is questionable for the Titans game. He showed up on Thursday’s practice report as limited with a new groin issue.
“He just had a little something that we had to check out,” Carroll said.
Lewis did not practice Friday, according to the team’s injury report.
With the Las Vegas Raiders signing fill-in guard Jordan Simmons off Seattle’s practice squad this week, Jamarco Jones likely would be the starting left guard Sunday if Lewis cannot play. Jones missed practice Thursday but was not on the injury report the Seahawks issued Friday for Sunday’s game.
Ethan Pocic worked some left guard in pregame warm ups last week before the Colts game, then sprained his knee on one of the 14 plays he was in for starting center Kyle Fuller at Indianapolis. Pocic went on injured reserve this week.
If Reed can’t play, former University of Washington Husky Sidney Jones could make his Seahawks debut as the starting left cornerback against the Titans.
But, again, Carroll said “we are in pretty good shape” concerning Reed’s status.
Bryan Mone had one of the best games of his three-year career last week against the Colts. He had five tackles and one quarterback hit while spending many of his 35 plays in Indianapolis’ backfield. Mone, though, is questionable for Sunday with an elbow injury.
Mone is one of only three defensive tackles on Seattle’s roster, with Al Woods and Poona Ford. Tennessee and two-time defending NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry are coming right at them Sunday.
“He’s doing well. He’s really chompin’ at the bit to play,” Carroll said of Mone. “We’ll see. We’ll see how he does.”
Rookie wide receiver Dee Eskridge and running back Rashaad Penny are doubtful to play against Tennessee. Eskridge hasn’t practiced this week because of the concussion he got running the second of his two fly sweeps against the Colts last weekend. Coach Pete Carroll has already said Penny will not play this weekend. The team’s number-two runner behind Chris Carson re-injured his calf after two carries last week.
The Titans’ injury of note is pass rusher Bud Dupree, whome Tennessee signed this offseason from Pittsburgh to an $85 million contract. He is questionable for Sunday with an injured knee.
This story was originally published September 17, 2021 at 1:36 PM.
