Seahawks Injuries: Dunlap questionable, Flowers doubtful, Penny to practice soon

The Seahawks have some injury questions heading into Sunday’s clash with the New York Giants and it sounds like Seattle will be without at least two key starters once gametime rolls around.

Heaps: Josh Gordon will contribute right away for the Seahawks

On Friday, the Seahawks released their final injury report of the week and cornerback Tre Flowers and right tackle Brandon Shell are doubtful to suit up, along with reserve running back Travis Homer. The Seahawks also ruled four players as questionable, including starting defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who has a foot injury. Dunlap been one of Seattle’s best defenders since he joined the team in Week 0. Since then, he has 3.5 sacks.

“We’ll find out about Carlos Dunlap here at the end of the week,” head coach Pete Carroll told reporters on Friday. “He was pretty bright-eyed about it today, so we’ll see what happens.”

Shell and Flowers, though, are almost shoo-ins to sit out this weekend. Flowers has a hamstring injury and Shell has an injured ankle.

“(Flowers) came out of the game with his hamstring tight. He did the MRI thing and he’s got something that we have to deal with,” Carroll said. “It’s not a serious hamstring injury, but it’s enough to really bother him this week and to expect him to turn around and bounce back for this week is a lot to expect. We’ll take it all the way up (to game time).”

Shell, while likely out this week, looks to be making good progress. He missed last week’s win over the Eagles with the injury.

“Brandon’s kind of made a turn where he’s really starting to move now,” Carroll said. “It would be a surprise if he could play this weekend, but he’s getting real close. I would think he’s really has turned the corner to get well here.”

If Shell is out, Cedric Ogbuehi will get the starting nod.

“He got through the first game and he’s going to be much better his next time out,” Carroll said. “… He played better as the game went on. So if we can get him out there, we’ll count on him to do a good job.”

Though he wasn’t listed on Friday’s injury report, he was sidelined at practice on Friday.

“Cedric has got something bothering him in his calf a little bit, so we just rested him today,” Carroll said.

The Seahawks also listed right guard Damien Lewis, backup center Kyle Fuller and No. 2 running back Carlos Hyde as questionable. Carroll didn’t provide updates on Lewis or Fuller, but he did sound optimistic about Hyde playing alongside starting running back Chris Carson, who returned last week after missing four games.

“We took care of those guys this week,” Carroll said. “They should both be ready to play. We’re counting on both of them.”

Hyde out-snapped and out-touched Carson last week, but Carroll said he wants Carson to get more touches against the Giants.

Penny practicing soon, no update on Taylor

Two players who Carroll gets asked about a lot are running back Rashaad Penny, a 2018 first-round pick, and 2020 second-round defensive end  Darrell Taylor. Both are on the physically unable to perform list.

Penny tore his ACL late last season and starting next week, he will be practicing.

“We’re finally on it. We’ve made the commitment and we’re doing it, so that one is for sure,” Carroll said.

Taylor has yet to practice or play due to a shin injury he suffered in college that required offseason surgery. His status is far less clear and it appears likely he won’t suit up for his rookie season. He left the team recently to get his shin looked at by other doctors.

“I have not heard back yet on Darrell’s trip that he took to leave town and see some (doctors), so we’ll find out about that when we do,” Carroll said. “We don’t have any information on that yet.”

You can listen to/watch Carroll’s Friday press conference on the Seahawks’ official YouTube page.

Follow Brandon Gustafson on Twitter.

Rost: Why the Seahawks’ trade for safety Jamal Adams has been worth it

Follow @TheBGustafson