Seahawks Inactives: No Penny but Hawks plenty healthy; LA’s Goff active

The Seahawks are about as healthy as a team can be this time of year as they enter their first-round playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, a start contrast compared to last year.

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In the postseason a year ago, the Seahawks were without their three top running backs, their starting left tackle and their best defensive lineman was injured.

Entering Saturday, the Seahawks had just three players listed on the team’s injury report, and all three were listed as questionable. Two of them avoided the inactives list released about 90 minutes before kickoff – starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (oblique) – while backup running back Rashaad Penny (knee) is one of six inactive players for Seattle against Los Angeles.

Penny left the Seahawks’ Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers with a cramp but head coach Pete Carroll wasn’t concerned about his health earlier in the week. Griffin and Reed were on the team’s injury report Thursday afternoon, but Penny wasn’t listed as questionable until Friday. Penny has played in just three games this season after returning in Week 15 following his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 of 2019.

Penny isn’t the only running back out for the Seahawks – rookie DeeJay Dallas is inactive for the third week in a row. Dallas wasn’t officially ruled out beforehand but he suffered an ankle injury in Week 15 and hasn’t played since. With those two out, Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde will be joined in the backfield rotation by Alex Collins, who was promoted from the practice squad on Friday. Collins scored a late rushing touchdown in Week 17.

Rounding out the Seahawks’ inactives list are tight ends Luke Willson and Colby Parkinson, cornerback Linden Stephens and offensive tackle Chad Wheeler – all healthy scratches.

Today’s @Seahawks inactives: pic.twitter.com/xgk4gsZGAM

— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) January 9, 2021

In addition to Griffin and Reed being active, the Seahawks will be getting starting left guard Mike Iupati and right tackle Brandon Shell back for the first time in weeks. Iupati hasn’t played since Week 15 due to a stinger while Shell has only appeared in one game since Week 11 due to both an ankle injury and a brief spell on the COVID-19/reserve list due to a close contact testing positive.

Additionally, Second-Team All-Pro safety Jamal Adams, who leads the Seahawks in sacks with 9.5 in 12 games, wasn’t listed on the injury report despite leaving Week 17 with a left shoulder injury. Adams has been banged up this season, missing four games due to a groin injury and playing at less than 100% health-wise in subsequent games due to a right shoulder injury and broken fingers. Carroll said Tuesday that Adams’ status would be determined later in the week, perhaps on gameday, but Adams told reporters Wednesday he was absolutely going to suit up for his first career playoff game.

For the Rams, the big question surrounding the team was at quarterback.

Starting QB Jarred Goff injured his thumb against the Seahawks in Week 16 and didn’t play in Week 17 after undergoing surgery. John Wolford started in his place and the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals to clinch a playoff spot.

Goff is active against the Seahawks, per ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, though it’s unclear whether he will start or not.

Rams QBs ACTIVE vs. Seahawks: Jared Goff and John Wolford

Rams inactives:
QB Blake Bortles
WR Trishton Jackson
TE Brycen Hopkins
OL Brian Allen
OL Tremayne Anchrum

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) January 9, 2021

Multiple Seattle reporters at Lumen Field, such as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, said Goff was throwing the ball a lot during pregame warmups, so with him being active, it would be surprising if he doesn’t get the start.

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