DK Metcalf’s laughs are signs he won’t miss Seahawks-Panthers. But Riq Woolen...
The biggest sign banged-up DK Metcalf is playing this week didn’t come from the latest practice.
He missed that.
It came before practice Wednesday, in a press conference inside the Seahawks’ main auditorium, then in the locker room.
Metcalf was laughing. A lot.
So those sore ribs he got getting crunched from the side by a Lions defender at the goal line Sunday in Detroit can’t be hurting him too badly.
“No,” Metcalf said through another grin, “I’m just smilin’. I love laughing up here.”
In fact, he and cornerback Riq Woolen (chest injury) have been cracking each other up this week in the Seahawks’ training room, despite their torso pain.
Metcalf laughed again when asked if it helps the Seahawks when they get to watch their next opponent live on national television, as they could Monday night when the Carolina Panthers played New Orleans.
“For some people,” Metcalf said. “But I’m playing Call Of Duty or Mortal Kombat.
“So, I didn’t have much time to do that.”
His characters on the Mortal Kombat video game?
“I’m a Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Raiden, Scorpion, Sub-Zero,” he said. “I randomize, but it depends on how I feel.”
In appears — literally, by his smiles, laughs and his coach’s words — that Metcalf will play again Sunday when the Seahawks (1-1) host the Panthers (0-2) at Lumen Field (1:05 p.m., channel 7).
“He’s going to make it through the week. He’s going to be all right,” coach Pete Carroll said. “We’re going to take care of him, but he’s going to be all right.”
It appears Woolen will not play against the Panthers and (presumably) banged-up rookie first-overall draft choice Bryce Young at quarterback. Woolen was unable to participate in even the morning walkthrough drills Wednesday. Those are almost all scheme with little physical exertion.
Carroll said his Pro Bowl cornerback from last season is still “pretty sore” from the injury he got in the first half last weekend in Detroit. The coach said it would take a sizable, quick recovery for Woolen to play against Carolina. Carroll said the injury isn’t serious enough to warrant Woolen going on the injured reserve list and missing a minimum of four games.
That makes it likely Tre Brown, a star of Seattle’s overtime win at the Lions, and rookie Devon Witherspoon (who debuted in Detroit) will be the Seahawks’ starting cornerbacks against Young and the Panthers this week. Those two were the corners outside, with Coby Bryant the nickel defensive back, for the final two-plus quarters at Detroit.
Metcalf’s pain
Metcalf got hurt catching and running with an 18-yard pass from Geno Smith on a third and 8 during the Seahawks’ first possession of the game at Detroit last weekend. He bulled toward the goal line and was reaching for it when Detroit cornerback Jerry Jacobs delivered a hard hit into Metcalf’s exposed side. Officials ruled Metcalf down just short of the touchdown Kenneth Walker got a few plays later.
He returned to the game for Seattle’s second possession, which ended in a punt. For the third series, rookie Jake Bobo was Seattle’s third wide receiver with Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks announced Metcalf as questionable to return to the game because of a rib injury.
He returned with 4 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter, with the Seahawks trailing 14-7. Metcalf played the rest of the game and had six catches for 75 yards. His 16-yard catch on a backside throw by Smith to Metcalf’s in route in front of Jacobs converted a key third and 6 in overtime. That drive and the game ended when Smith connected with Lockett for the winning touchdown from 6 yards.
Metcalf said the Lions led by chew-nails coach Dan Campbell brought an extra physicality to the game played in front of a wild, ear-splitting crowd inside sold-out Ford Field.
“Football is a physical sport, so you really can’t gauge how physical a game is going to be, or games in the past how physical they were. But that Lions team was a physical team to play,” Metcalf said. “You know their coach is always going to have them ready. I think they feed off the energy of their coach. That’s just the culture they’ve built over there.”
Sunday, he will face a Panthers defense that sacked Saints quarterback Derek Carr four times and intercepted him once while allowing him to throw for 228 yards in Carolina’s 20-17 loss to New Orleans Monday. The Panthers offense was held without a touchdown until their final drive. The Saints were protecting an 11-point lead by playing ultra-soft zone coverage and letting completions happen in front of them.
Young injured his ankle in that game. McClatchy’s Charlotte Observer reported Carolina coach Frank Reich said Young’s status for the game against the Seahawks is “unclear at the moment and that he would be re-evaluated throughout the week.”
Veteran Andy Dalton, 35, is the Panthers’ backup quarterback.
In week one, the Panthers sacked Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder four times and gave up just 115 yards passing. But Carolina lost that game 24-10 after Young threw two interceptions in his NFL debut and the Panthers committed three turnovers.
Metcalf said Wednesday he’ll be ready for the Panthers’ defense Sunday.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Metcalf said.
Asked how close to 100% healthy he is, he laughed again and said: “I’m always 100%.”
This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 3:07 PM.
