Seahawks back from bye: Jamal Adams jokes, doesn’t practice, is close. DK Metcalf’s pain
Jamal Adams joked with Riq Woolen. He shouted at Devon Witherspoon as the rookie cornerback jogged past. He playfully greeted Tre Brown then shook the cornerback’s hand.
Adams talked and laughed with assistant coaches. He laughed with teammates as they ran through their bag drill that starts each work day on the field.
What he didn’t do is practice.
The Seahawks (3-1) returned from their bye week off Monday. They began preparing for their attempt to extend their winning streak to four games, Sunday at Cincinnati (2-3). Adams, Seattle’s three-time Pro Bowl safety, appeared to still be in the NFL concussion protocol seven days after he sustained one early in the team’s win at the New York Giants.
Coach Pete Carroll said following the practice Adams is “on the final stage, coming up, on getting cleared” from the concussion protocol.
“And a pretty promising thought that he will be cleared (Tuesday),” Carroll said.
The players have their standard Tuesday off before returning to practices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The concussion protocol often is at least a seven-day process before players are cleared to return to practicing, though every head and brain injury is different. There will have been 13 days between games when the Seahawks kick off against the Bengals this weekend.
The league decided this past weekend not to punish Adams for his sideline outburst during the Giants game at a neurology specialist hired by the NFL and players’ association to assist in concussion situations during games.
Adams posted an apology on his social-media account last week, three days after he left his first game in 13 months after playing nine snaps.
On the ninth, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones’ knee hit the falling Adams’ head on a scramble run.
‘Give him a little slack’
Of Adams’ outburst at the concussion monitor on the sidelines and the league deciding not to punish the Seahawk for it, Carroll said: “He got hit in the head. Whatever happens, under the pressure of the game and he had a concussion, he had a legit concussion, I think we’ve got to give him a little slack there.
“I know he apologized for stuff I don’t even though that he remembers what he said, so he was knocked pretty good.
“But he’s come back out of it. I think he’s done the very classy thing on how he’s handled it, from that point.”
DK Metcalf watches
DK Metcalf stood behind teammates beginning practice talking to coach Pete Carroll. The wide receiver was wearing flat sneakers Monday, not spikes.
Metcalf caught a touchdown pass from Geno Smith in the first quarter at New York last week. He has been playing through injured ribs he got Sept. 17 in Seattle’s win at Detroit.
He was one of 14 banged-up starters who were looking forward to the just-completed bye.
It was Seattle’s earliest week off in a season since 2016.
“He’s been just tough as nails to stick out, because he was hurt. He was legitimately hurt,” Carroll said. “But he’s made it through it.
“I don’t think in the next couple weeks he’ll be totally well. But he’ll be able to play.”
Charles Cross returns
Starting left tackle Charles Cross practiced for the first time since he sprained a big toe Sept. 10 in Seattle’s opening-game loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“He looked quick and nifty and all that kind of stuff. We’ll see how he looks...how we get through the week,” Carroll said. “We’ll see if he can maintain the practice level that will allow him a chance to play (at Cincinnati).”
Starting right tackle Abe Lucas is on injured reserve through the Bengals game with an injured knee. Jake Curhan has been starting at right tackle and Stone Forsythe has been starting the last three games at left tackle.
Jason Peters debut?
Jason Peters is getting close to pushing for a Seahawks debut.
The 41-year-old former All-Pro and Super Bowl-champion left tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles continued what he’s done the three-plus weeks since signing with the Seahawks’ practice squad. He again began practice stretching with a trainers and pulling against a large band over his legs. But then he did more Monday during practice.
Peters has said he signed with Seattle off his couch in east Texas last month to play for the first time since January, not advise and watch. He said he has an agreement with Carroll that when he feels game-ready in his conditioning he will tell the coach.
Carroll said this is “a big week” for Peters to prove he’s ready, and that he’s close.
The coach said Peters could play right tackle, guard, pretty much anywhere on the offensive line. So if practices well this week he could be an option at right tackle, even if Cross returns to play on the left.
Phil Haynes watching
Phil Haynes was standing behind teammates with a hood over his head as they began practice.
The starting right guard left Seattle’s win over the Giants with a continuation of his calf injury. Rookie Anthony Bradford took Haynes’ place.
Carroll said Haynes and starting left guard Damien Lewis have chances to play this week. Lewis left the Giants game with an ankle injury.
Jarran Reed practicing
Jarran Reed, a key to the Seahawks’ rush defense and entire defensive line, was participating at the start of practice.
He left the win over the Giants with a shin injury in the second half of Seattle’s 24-3 victory.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published October 9, 2023 at 4:20 PM.
