Seahawks Injuries: Carson’s season is over, Adams and Reed questionable

If the Seahawks are going to salvage a 3-6 start to the 2021 season and make the playoffs, getting a win over the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals would be a big start.

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But Seattle may have to enter the NFC West clash without two of the defense’s top players, and the team will be without its star running back for the rest of 2021.

Starting with the running back, that would be Chris Carson, who has been out since Week 4 with a neck injury. Head coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Carson will undergo season-ending surgery in order to be ready for the 2022 season.

“We went as long as we could and he went as hard as he could at it, but after just not being able to get it (right) and turned around, this is the best choice,” Carroll told reporters at his press conference.

Carroll confirmed once again that Carson’s neck injury is not similar to the neck injuries that ended the careers of Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril in 2017. Carroll called it a “spot issue” on a vertebrae and that it was a “wear and tear thing” that hadn’t bothered Carson until this season.

Carson signed back with the Seahawks this past offseason on a two-year contract. He was drafted by Seattle in 2017 and has been the team’s lead back since 2018.

With Carson out for the year, the Seahawks’ healthy running backs are Alex Collins, Rashaad Penny, DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer. Carroll said that Penny, the team’s 2018 first-round pick, should have a bigger role going forward.

Also on Friday, the Seahawks revealed their final injury report prior to Week 11 against the Cardinals, and half of the team’s starting secondary is questionable.

Safety Jamal Adams and cornerback D.J. Reed are both listed as questionable to play against the Cardinals. Adams has a groin injury while Reed is listed as having both a groin and knee injury.

Carroll said both Adams and Reed will be gametime decisions for Sunday.

“Something happened a little bit during the week, so we don’t know enough about it yet, so we have to wait and use every day,” Carroll said. “They’re hopeful that they’re going to be alright.”

Adams missed four games last year with a groin injury and recorded his first interception with the Seahawks last week while Reed has been a starter at outside corner since midway through last season.

If those two are out, Ryan Neal figures to get the start at strong safety while Sidney Jones or Bless Austin likely would start at cornerback opposite rookie Tre Brown.

The Seahawks didn’t rule anyone on the 53-man roster out for Sunday, but reserve offensive tackle Jamarco Jones (back), defensive tackle Kerry Hyder Jr. (calf) and backup linebacker Cody Barton (quadricep) are also questionable.

Carroll said Hyder should be able to play Sunday while Jones’ status will be decided on Sunday.

The good news for Seattle is that Collins (groin), tight end Gerald Everett (groin), left tackle Duane Brown (hip) and receiver DK Metcalf (foot) do not have injury designations despite logging non-participant days in practice this week due to their respective injuries.

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