Seahawks’ injury situation for Sunday: DK Metcalf trending to play, issues at safety
DK Metcalf, Jarran Reed, Julian Love and Phil Haynes appear less iffy than they are officially.
The Seahawks listed them questionable Friday to play Sunday in their game against the Carolina Panthers at Lumen Field (1:05 p.m., channel 7). But all practiced.
Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday Metcalf’s ribs he injured getting tackled from the side at the goal line last weekend in the team’s overtime win at Detroit wouldn’t keep the wide receiver from playing against the Panthers.
Metcalf joked Wednesday he was 100% healthy, that “I’m always 100%.” Friday, he practiced for the first time this week.
Quandre Diggs was not practicing Friday during the initial portion open to the media. The Pro Bowl safety is questionable for Sunday because of a hamstring injury. But Love, who has started at safety with Diggs the first two games, returned to practice Friday. His hamstring issue kept him out practice Wednesday and Thursday.
The team lists safety Jamal Adams questionable. He hasn’t played in 12 months, since he tore his quadriceps tendon in Seattle’s opening game of the 2022 season. Adams has been on an incremental track back to returning; his season debut has seemed more likely for next week, Seattle’s game Oct. 2 at the New York Giants.
The only safety healthy on the active roster is Jerrick Reed, the rookie sixth-round draft choice.
He was happy Thursday.
The best development for the Seahawks Friday — and potentially for their defense against Carolina’s run-first offense — was the return to practice of Reed.
The nose tackle is at the center, literally, of Seattle’s run defense that has improved so far through two games from being the NFL’s 30th-ranked unit last season.
Carolina with 35-year-old backup quarterback Andy Dalton starting for injured prized rookie Bryce Young and a run-first approach anyway, figures test Seattle’s run defense more consistently than the Rams and Lions did in the first two games.
The team made left tackle Charles Cross (sprained big toe, right foot) and nickel defensive back Coby Bryant (toe) officially out for Sunday’s game.
The Seahawks list cornerback Riq Woolen (chest) and tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) doubtful to play Sunday. They were not participating Friday during the portion of practice open to the media.
Woolen’s absence means Tre Brown, who had a sack, forced fumble and interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Detroit last weekend, will start at right cornerback. Devon Witherspoon will start his second consecutive game at left cornerback. The fifth pick in the draft this year made his NFL debut against the Lions.
With Bryant out this week, the team signed Artie Burns from the practice squad to the active roster. Carroll said Burns is coming off his best game in the two seasons he’s been with Seattle. In Detroit last weekend and for the opener against the Los Angeles Rams, games, Burns got promoted from the practice squad and was the sixth, dime defensive back, with Bryant the fifth, nickel back.
The veteran Burns, a former first-round pick of Pittsburgh, is likely to be the nickel against Carolina.
Dissly’s injury makes it likely Brady Russell debuts for the Seahawks Sunday. The team signed the rookie tight end from Colorado off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad onto the active roster this week. He said he loves to block. That’s what Seattle needs with Dissly missing.
Running back DeeJay Dallas is questionable. He missed practice Friday with an illness. That could mean more third-down plays for rookie Zach Charbonnet, and the promotion from the practice squad of rookie running back SaRodorick Thompson for Sunday’s game.
This story was originally published September 22, 2023 at 1:36 PM.
