LB K.J. Wright has ‘real chance’ to play in Seahawks-Chiefs, RB Rashaad Penny (knee) will be gametime decision
Dec 21, 2018, 9:40 AM
Seahawks LB K.J. Wright will return to Seattle in 2019. (AP)
(AP)
The Seahawks and Chiefs will meet at CenturyLink Field Sunday night for a matchup that carries real weight for both teams. Seattle (8-6) and Kansas City (11-3) will both be fighting for playoff seeding — the Chiefs for the difference between the AFC West title and a fifth seed, and the Seahawks for the opportunity to all-but-clinch a playoff spot after missing the postseason in 2017.
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“This is a classic for us and a chance to play a great team,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Friday morning. “It’s an AFC team, which is kind of exciting in a sense. Maybe that’s the matchup that you wind up playing (in February), if you’re that fortunate. So we’re taking it as a championship outing and we love that we’re playing here at CenturyLink.”
The Seahawks are three-point underdogs to the high-flying Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is compiling an MVP-caliber season and leads all quarterbacks in total passing yards (4,543), passing yards per game (325) and touchdowns (45).
The Seahawks could see a return of a veteran on defense, however.
“K.J. (Wright) made it through the week practicing and we’re really excited for that,” Carroll said. “He wants to play ball with this team so much and he’s meant so much this season. He’s got a real chance to play this weekend and we’re really looking forward to it. We’ll take him all the way up to gametime just to make sure all of his recovery from the week allows that to happen. But it’s a real exciting opportunity for him to get back to ball. He just looks like such a monster out there, he’s so big and long and rangy. He knows where he’s going and he’s got such great savvy. I mean, he and Bobby (Wagner) are just on a different planet as far as the way they communicate. So I’m really looking forward to that and I’m hoping that happens this weekend.”
The outlook sounds slightly less optimistic for rookie running back Rashaad Penny – though it’s worth noting Penny hasn’t yet been ruled out.
“We’re going to take that all the way up to gametime to see how he does,” Carroll said. “He’s really charging to get back. We’ve got to make sure he’s right and all that and I don’t know that yet.”
Carroll’s full interview with Dori Monson will air at 12:30 p.m. on 97.3 KIRO FM.
More on Seahawks-Chiefs:
Moore: Injuries will make it hard for Seahawks to keep up with Chiefs
Heaps’ film room: Understanding LT Duane Brown’s integral role
Fluker’s status uncertain; Scarbrough adds RB insurance for Hawks
