DK Metcalf, Devon Witherspoon, Kenneth Walker shades of questionable for game. Adams out
As is often the case, there are differing degrees of “questionable” for DK Metcalf, Devon Witherspoon, Jordyn Brooks and Kenneth Walker on the Seahawks’ injury report for their next, really-need-to-win game.
The team listed Metcalf questionable to play Sunday against Pittsburgh. The hulking wide receiver was not on the field for the start of Seattle’s practice open to the media Friday. It was the last full practice before the Seahawks (8-7) host the Steelers (8-7) Sunday at Lumen Field (1:05 p.m., channel 13).
Metcalf also missed practice Thursday with a new back injury.
Yet after practice coach Pete Carroll said he expects Metcalf to play Sunday.
“He’s got a little bit of lower-back stiffness, so we are taking care of him,” Carroll said.
Asked if he thinks Metcalf will play, Carroll said: “Yes.”
Metcalf played through the end of the Seahawks’ rally past the Tennessee Titans last weekend. Metcalf’s deep post route behind a Titans defender with 1:09 left forced a defender to grab him for a pass-interference penalty to the 5-yard line. That set up Geno Smith’s winning touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson from there with 57 seconds left in the Seahawks’ 20-17 victory.
Seattle holds the seventh and final wild-card playoff spot in the NFC with two games remaining in the regular season. If the Seahawks beat the Steelers, their chances of making the NFC playoffs as a wild card rise to 87%. If Seattle loses, their playoff chances fall to 41%. That’s according to The New York Times’ playoff predictor.
Metcalf missed a game for the first time in his five-year NFL career this season, Oct. 22 against Arizona. He had a hip injury on top of ribs he injured in week two, Seattle’s win at Detroit.
Kenneth Walker questionable
Lead running back Kenneth Walker got stretched on the side off the field as practice began. He is also questionable to play Sunday.
“He worked today, too,” Carroll said.
“All of the guys who were limited in some fashion we are going to make sure that we get them all the way to game time, and we will figure that all out then.”
Walker rushed 16 times for 54 yards last weekend at Tennessee. He has a shoulder injury and has been sick this week. He didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Rookie Zach Charbonnet would be the Seahawks’ primary rusher Sunday if Walker doesn’t play.
Devon Witherspoon looks ready
Witherspoon is officially questionable.
But signs are he will play Sunday.
The cornerback joked with fellow defensive backs and assistant coach DeShawn Shead. Then the fifth pick in this year’s NFL draft ran through the first part of practice appearing to be full go.
The NFL’s defensive rookie of the month for October has missed the last two games with a hip pointer.
“He practiced (Friday), and was moving around pretty good out there. We’ll see how that goes,” Carroll said. “We’ll wait all the way up to game time.”
Witherspoon’s imminent return likely means fewer snaps for veteran Artie Burns, another former Steelers first-round pick. Burns has been in Witherspoon’s role as nickel, inside back on passing downs while the rookie has been out injured.
Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt said there are no signs Witherspoon is behind in the defense by missing the last two games.
“I mean, he even missed a ton of time in the springtime, training camp (with a hamstring issue),” Hurtt said. “He hit the ground running when we started the season.
“Like I said, guys are really smart and sharp and they see football from a little bit of a different perspective as a young player. There’s always going to naturally be some sort of rust, but I think he’ll catch up pretty fast.”
Jordyn Brooks returns
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is also questionable to play Sunday.
He returned to practice Friday for the first time since he left the Tennessee game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He was jogging with no apparent discomfort next to starting partner Bobby Wagner at the start of drills.
“We’ll see how that goes,” Carroll said of Brooks playing Sunday. “I don’t know any more than that.”
That’s likely to be another game-time decision.
If Brooks cannot play Sunday, former Steelers first-round pick Devin Bush is ready to start next to Wagner.
Carroll said he’s talked to Bush about playing the team that let him go this past year, and not doing too much against Pittsburgh beyond what he needs to help Seattle’s defense.
“We fronted it up and talked about it,” Carroll said. “His teammates were giving him a hard time about handling it really well, and making sure he does...we are all supporting him.
“I think he’s going to handle it really well, and looking forward to him playing good football for us.”
Jamal Adams out...for season?
Safety Jamal Adams was not with Witherspoon and the defensive backs at the start of practice. He did not appear to be on the field in the portion of the workout open to the media.
Soon after, the Seahawks said Adams was out for Sunday. He’ll miss his third consecutive game. His knee has been paining him since he made his season debut Oct. 2 following 13 months out after a torn quadriceps tendon.
Adams had been a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday.
“He’s doing everything he can. You know, he’s doing everything he can. It’s just really, really frustrating that he can’t quite get over the hump,” Carroll said.
The coach said he talked to Adams Friday about not playing.
“He feels this is the right thing for this week,” Carroll said.
If Brooks plays, Bush will likely be a “big nickel” option against Pittsburgh’s run game Sunday. That’s a role Adams could have had if he played.
It’s conceivable Adams won’t play again for the Seahawks this season. Carroll has said the team has considered that.
The Seahawks’ medical and training staff gave Adams a couple weeks off to rest the knee. That allowed him to get back to practicing this week.
“But it’s just not up to the level that he can play that,” Carroll said. “And he knows that and we know that. We talked it through.”
Julian Love has cemented his value as the deep safety next to Quandre Diggs while Adams has been out the last few weeks.
Carroll was asked if Adams would try to practice next week to play when Seattle plays at Arizona in the regular season finale.
“I don’t know,” the coach said.
Frank Clark way out
Veteran pass rusher Frank Clark is out for Sunday.
He has a rare, “NIR (Not Injury Related)-Resting player” designation for missing a game.
Clark was inactive for Seattle’s game at Tennessee last week. The team said he had an illness.
The 30-year-old has played in six games with no sacks and six tackles since the Seahawks signed back their second-round pick from 2015 as a free agent. Seattle signed back Clark Oct. 26 after the team lost leading pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu to a season-ending injury, a torn pectoral muscle and surgery.
Carroll wasn’t forthcoming about Clark’s situation Friday.
“Frank is out for the game. And that’s where he is right now,” Carroll said.
“Frank’s fine. I’m not talking about him. That’s it. I’ve got nothin’ for you. He’s out right now.
“And we’ll just leave it at that.”
Steelers injuries
In Pittsburgh, the Steelers declared safety Minkah Fitzpatrick with his ongoing knee issue. Veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson is likely to again be Pittsburgh’s fill-in safety Sunday.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett is officially questionable following his ankle surgery. But coach Mike Tomlin confirmed to reporters in Pittsburgh Mason Rudolph will start his second consecutive game Sunday in Seattle.
Rudolph replaced fill-in Mitch Trubisky last week and led the Steelers to one of their best offensive outbursts in years while beating the Cincinnati Bengals 34-11.
This story was originally published December 29, 2023 at 1:28 PM.
