Seahawks injuries: Top CBs out, RBs questionable, ‘Snacks’ likely to play

The Seahawks enter a key divisional matchup with the Los Angeles Rams and they will be without a few key starters and may miss more once game time rolls around.

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On Friday, the Seahawks ruled starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin and starting center Ethan Pocic out of the contest as well as backup defensive tackle Bryan Mone. Griffin has a hamstring injury, Pocic has a concussion and Mone has an injured ankle. They later ruled out cornerback Quinton Dunbar after listing him as questionable.

Before Dunbar was ruled out, head coach Pete Carroll said Friday that it was unlikely that Dunbar would make the trip. He didn’t practice this week and Carroll said they’ve been doing rehab work on Dunbar’s injured knee.

“It’s going to take some time to take advantage of the rehab. He’s making good progress but not enough progress to play in the game,” Carroll said.

With those two out, Tre Flowers will get the starting nod at outside cornerback. Who starts opposite him is a bit of a question mark.

Seattle will likely have four options in Ryan Neal, D.J. Reed, Linden Stephens and Neiko Thorpe. Neal has mostly played safety this season but has experience at cornerback while Stephens hasn’t played much in the NFL and Reed has mostly played nickel and safety but it’s been said that he could handle playing outside. Carroll said Thorpe, who has been on injured reserve with a hip injury, is ready to play. He is also Seattle’s special teams captain.

“We’re really excited about getting him back,” Carroll said.

With Pocic out, Kyle Fuller will get his first career NFL start at center. Carroll said he’s a tough, physical player who is ready to go.

“He’s been right there at the edge of getting in and playing,” Carroll said, noting some first-time offensive linemen, such as Jordan Simmons two seasons ago, have had success against the Rams. ” … Kyle will be ready to go. He’s going to do a good job for us.”

The long injury report continued, though, with seven players listed as questionable. Those seven were running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, defensive ends Benson Mayowa and Alton Robinson, receivers Freddie Swain and Penny Hart and linebacker K.J. Wright.

Carroll said the two top running backs both appear to be game-time decisions after missing the last two weeks. Carson has an injured foot and Hyde has an inured hamstring. Hyde practiced Friday and Carson did some running, and Carroll thinks Carson has a better chance of playing.

“We think Chris has a chance if we don’t overdo it early, so that’s why we decided not to put him on the field today. He still worked out and ran and all of that,” Carroll said. “Carlos, this was a chance for him to show (he was ready) and he looked pretty good today. We’ll have to see how it goes.”

Wright, the team’s starting linebacker, should be able to play despite an ankle injury he suffered in last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“We waited until today (to have him practice) and he looked fine today, so there’s a real good chance he’ll be OK for the game,” Carroll said.

Mayowa, one of the team’s top pass rushers, is likely out again. Carroll said he’s “not quite making it all the way back.”

“We’ll see how it goes when we check him in tomorrow morning, but he hasn’t made it all the way back to the practice field yet, so it’s a long shot for him to get back,” Carroll said.

Some good news for the Seahawks is that starting left guard Mike Iupati and nickel corner Ugo Amadi are off the injury report after missing the last few games.

Additionally, recently-signed defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison will likely play with Mone out. Carroll didn’t specifically say he would be activated from the practice squad, but said he is excited to see him play after he spent the last few weeks getting into playing shape.

“He worked really hard to be able to go and I’m really hoping he’ll have some success and have fun playing football again and get him back a part of it,” he said.  “… The style of play he brings fits us really well.”

You can listen to Carroll’s full Friday press conference at the Seahawks’ official YouTube page here.

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