Michael Bennett among Seahawks ruled out vs Saints, surgery possible

RENTON – The Seahawks will be without defensive end Michael Bennett for Sunday’s game against New Orleans – and possibly longer – due to a knee injury that coach Pete Carroll said may require surgery.

Carroll said Friday that the injury may be related to the one Bennett sustained two weeks ago against Atlanta, when offensive tackle Jake Matthews hit his right knee while executing a cut block, causing it to hyperextend. Bennett left that game and didn’t return. Carroll said nothing showed up on initial tests of Bennett’s knee after the Atlanta game but that an MRI taken earlier this week revealed “a little something,” which he later described as “a little cartilage deal.”

Bennett played 81 snaps last week against Arizona. Carroll said the 2015 Pro Bowler experienced swelling on Monday and Tuesday and “felt like there was something going on.” And while he his description of Bennett’s injury may suggest that it’s minor, Carroll acknowledged that “there’s a possibility” he will need surgery.

“We’re going to check him on Monday and see if there’s something we can do for him,” Carroll said. “His knee bothered him after the (Arizona) game coming out, so we’re going to take care of him. We’ll look into seeing what’s necessary next week.”

Bennett didn’t practice this week, though his absences on Wednesday and Thursday didn’t sound alarm bells given that he routinely gets days off as a means of maintenance, something he’d be in line for coming off last Sunday night’s overtime game. Also, the Seahawks made Bennett available to the media Thursday, something the team doesn’t typically do with players whose statuses are in question because of an injury.

With Bennett out Sunday, Frank Clark figures to start and get more pass-rushing opportunities along with Cassius Marsh. The Seahawks also signed defensive end Malliciah Goodman earlier this week when they placed rookie defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson on Injured Reserve. Carroll said Goodman will be active Sunday.

Bennett’s absence adds to what was already a challenging injury situation for Seattle heading to New Orleans. The Seahawks will be without two other defensive starters – strong safety Kam Chancellor and linebacker Kevin Pierre Louis – and possibly left tackle Bradley Sowell, who is listed as questionable after initially being ruled out because of his sprained MCL. Carroll said he’ll be a game-time decision.

The situation at left tackle is of particular importance this week as quarterback Russell Wilson deals with yet another injury, this one to his pectoral. Wilson is expected to play Sunday, but the injury is severe enough to limit him in practice this week, something no other injury has done since he entered the league in 2012, including the ankle and knee sprains that he’s been playing through this season.

His blindside could be in the hands of undrafted rookie George Fant, who is new to football in general and even more new to the offensive line, having played tight end during his only season of college football. Fant stepped in when Sowell went down against Arizona and would likely do so Sunday against New Orleans if needed, Carroll said. Rookie Rees Odhiambo and veteran J’Marcus Webb are Seattle’s other options at left tackle, but all indications are that it would be Fant if Sowell can’t play.

“We’re going to work out Brad on game day. He made great progress this week. There’s a chance he’ll dress for this game,” Carroll said. “We have our choices. George finished the game last week, and that’s a likely move for us to go with. We’ve got some other choices like I told you, and we’re not ruling out Brad at this point. I don’t know how he did that that fast, but he did, and he looks like he’s ready to compete for it. And he’ll try to show us on game day that he’s ready to go.”

Carroll said Wilson threw in practice every day this week but that the team had him dial back his velocity as to not put additional strain on the injury, which is on his throwing side.

“It just has been sore,” Carroll said. “We didn’t want to throw through it and ignore it, so we took care of it during the week. He was able to do everything and running around and all that. He continues to improve in his mobility. I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes off a little bit more than he has. He’s ready to do that.”

Chancellor will miss his third straight game due to a groin injury. Carroll on Friday called it a “substantial groin pull” and said he hasn’t bounced back from it as quickly as the team initially hoped. Kelcie McCray will again start in his absence.

Pierre-Louis missed the Arizona game and didn’t practice this week due to a sprained ankle. Cassius Marsh started at strong-side linebacker, and Carroll earlier this week didn’t have a favorable review of how he fared in that role. But as was the case against Arizona, the Seahawks’ defense could be in nickel for much of Sunday’s game against New Orleans, which could mean only a handful of snaps for whomever steps in at strong-side linebacker.

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett is also listed as questionable, but Carroll said it’s likely that he’ll play. He said Lockett is all but over the knee injury he’s been dealing with since Week 2 and that he’s recovered from getting kneed in the thigh earlier this week.