Seahawks Inactives: Walker, Fant play vs Chiefs; Lockett among 7 out

The Seahawks are without a few familiar faces against the AFC West-champion Chiefs in freezing Kansas City.

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Star receiver Tyler Lockett (hand) will miss just the third game of his eight-year NFL career. Additionally, starting strong safety Ryan Neal (knee) and defensive tackle Al Woods (Achilles) are out as well.

Lockett leads the Seahawks in receiving yards and touchdowns this year and has once again been a reliable target in Seattle’s offense.

Neal, meanwhile, has emerged as a starter after Jamal Adams got hurt in Week 1 and Josh Jones struggled. Neal has been a steady performer for the Hawks’ struggling defense and has really shined with open-field tackling, especially on third down.

Woods is one of two Seattle defensive captains. The Seahawks’ run defense has been horrid of late, allowing over 1,000 yards over their last five games. Woods being out won’t help things as the big-bodied nose tackle is a run-stuffer.

Rounding out Seattle’s inactives list are all healthy scratches: cornerback Artie Burns, offensive tackle Jake Curhan, defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon and running back Wayne Gallman.

The good news for the Seahawks as they take on the Chiefs is that the four players they listed as questionable to play are all active for the Week 16 showdown.

Those four players are starting running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle and back), his backup DeeJay Dallas (ankle), tight end Noah Fant (knee) and receiver Marquise Goodwin (wrist/ankle).

Walker has led the Seahawks in rushing this year, though he and Seattle’s run game have been held in check over the last five weeks. Walker – who missed the Seahawks’ game two weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers – will look to get rolling again against the Chiefs in frigid temperatures on Saturday.

Fant is third on the Seahawks in receptions, targets and receiving yards behind Lockett and DK Metcalf this season in his first year in Seattle. He and fellow tight ends Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson have been a big part of the offense this season, especially in three-tight end looks. That may be the case again on Saturday with Lockett out of action.

As for Goodwin, he slots in as the Seahawks’ No. 2 receiver with Lockett out. The speedy veteran has carved out a nice role in his first year in Seattle and has become a reliable target for quarterback Geno Smith. Goodwin is fourth on the team in targets and yards and is third in touchdown receptions.

On the other side, the Chiefs are pretty healthy for this contest. For Kansas City’s inactives list, visit this link.

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