DK Metcalf likely not playing vs. Bills. But the Seahawks are getting back key defenders
What would the Seahawks’ offense look like without DK Metcalf in it?
They are likely to find out Sunday.
Seattle listed its hulking, star wide receiver Friday as doubtful to play for the NFC West leaders (4-3) in their game against AFC East-leading Buffalo (5-2) at Lumen Field (1:05 p.m., channel 13).
This is likely to be the second game Metcalf, 26, has missed in his six NFL seasons since the Seahawks traded up to select him in the second round of the 2019 draft.
“It’s doubtful right now for the game. It’s not out of the question, 100%, yet,” coach Mike Macdonald said following Seattle’s practice Friday that Metcalf missed. “So we’ll take it to Sunday and then go from there.”
Metcalf sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee last weekend. He leaped for a pass Geno Smith threw beyond the sideline boundary in the second half of Seattle’s win at Atlanta. Falcons safety Justin Simmons hit Metcalf as he was in the air, causing him to fall with his feet above his head. He landed hard on his left knee into the artificial turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Metcalf left the field five days ago on the back of a motorized cart. He hasn’t practiced since.
Macdonald had said at the beginning of this week the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Metcalf would do “everything humanly possible” play Sunday against Buffalo. Macdonald called the receiver’s injury a grade-1 sprain.
The Cleveland Clinic defines a grade-1 sprain as requiring one to three weeks of recovery time.
Asked to characterize Metcalf’s situation as a week-to-week or day-to-day proposition, Macdonald said Friday: “I would say we are going to see on Sunday, and then go from there.”
His absence has meant larger roles for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo as the top three receivers with Tyler Lockett in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s Seahawks offense. Laviska Shenault, also a kick returner, has been the fourth receiver this week.
Lockett says the team’s depth at receiver means Smith’s league-leading passing should be able to continue against Buffalo. The Bills are 17th in the league in pass defense, allowing 209.1 yards per game. Seattle, with Metcalf, is averaging 270.9 yards passing from Smith per game.
“I think we have great depth in our room. You guys (saw) it when we were in camp, even when we had joint practices. Everybody was making plays left and right,” Lockett said this week. “It was a difficult probably decision for everybody upstairs to figure out who was going to be on the team, who was going to make the team.
“I think we have great depth and I think we have really great players to be able to go out there and make plays and do what’s necessary to be able to help us be able to win those games.”
Good cornerback news
Cornerback Riq Woolen missed practices and the game last weekend at Atlanta with a sprained ankle. He practiced all this week and isn’t on the injury report for the Bills game. He’s ready to start Sunday, Macdonald confirmed.
“Riq looks good,” the coach said.
Cornerback Tre Brown is officially questionable. But the coach says his third starting cornerback signs are he will play Sunday. He also missed the Atlanta game.
“Tre practiced (Friday). Trending positively for the game,” Macdonald said.
“Optimistic with Tre.”
That’s potentially large.
Without Woolen and Brown last week, the Seahawks elevated Josh Jobe from the practice squad to start opposite rookie fifth-round pick Nehemiah Pritchett in Atlanta. It was Pritchett’s first career start. Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon played inside at nickel most of the game, as usual.
Seattle’s defense largely got away with the two new cornerbacks in Atlanta. They gave up a few plays, but Falcons top receiver Drake London had six catches for only 63 yards including a touchdown in the Seahawks’ 34-14 win.
Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills are far more lethal than the Falcons’ offense. Allen is off to a start worthy of league MVP consideration with 12 touchdowns, zero interceptions and a game-breaking ability to run.
Woolen and Brown starting instead of Jobe and Pritchett against Buffalo is a big win for Seattle’s defense, before Sunday’s game even begins.
Boye Mafe misses practice
Boye Mafe did not practice Friday. He was getting treatment on his knee.
He was not on the injury report for Sunday’s game the team issued Friday.
He missed two game, Seattle’s losses at Detroit and to the New York Giants, into early October with a knee issue.
Mafe is second on the team in sacks with four, one behind opposite starting outside linebacker Derick Hall.
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 1:16 PM.
