SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Lockett and Walker among 6 Seahawks questionable to play against Jets

Dec 30, 2022, 2:06 PM | Updated: 2:41 pm

Seahawks Tyler Lockett...

Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks runs a route against the Atlanta Falcons at Lumen Field on September 25, 2022. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

A lot is up in the air for the Seahawks when they take on the Jets this Sunday.

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As the Seahawks fight to stay in the playoff race, it’s unclear how many of their key players will be able to suit up against New York for the Week 17 showdown at Lumen Field.

Star receiver Tyler Lockett (hand) and starting rookie running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle) are two of seven Seattle players questionable to play this weekend, the team announced Friday afternoon. The other five players questionable to play on Sunday are veteran nose tackle Al Woods (Achilles), starting rookie right tackle Abraham Lucas (knee), starting strong safety Ryan Neal (knee) and running back Travis Homer (ankle). Receiver Marquise Goodwin (shoulder and wrist) was initially questionable but was downgraded to doubtful.

Lockett missed last week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to surgery on his hand to repair a broken bone. He was a limited participant at Thursday’s practice, and he’s missed just three games in total since entering the league in 2015. He’s second on the team in receptions and receiving yards and first in receiving touchdowns.

“He did well (this week at practice),” head coach Pete Carroll told reporters on Friday. “He’s still questionable on the (injury) chart, but he did quite well.”

Carroll later said that there was “no indication of anything bothering him” in terms of Lockett catching passes at practice.

Walker, meanwhile, leads the Seahawks in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2022 and has nine starts since taking over lead back duties for the injured Rashaad Penny. Walker missed Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers with an ankle injury.

“He’s going to have fresh legs,” Carroll said of Walker, adding that he expects the rookie to play. ” … We want to be fast on Sunday, so we looked after a couple guys this week.”

Woods, one of Seattle’s two defensive captains, has missed the last two weeks with his injury after getting hurt in the first half of Week 14 against the Panthers. Carroll said he needs to check and see how Woods feels after practicing on Friday, but that the veteran “looked pretty good.”

Lucas, a third-round pick out of WSU in April, has started every game for the Seahawks at right tackle this year. He played every snap from Week 1 through Week 15 before leaving last week’s game against the Chiefs due to injury.

Lucas’ injury is patellar tendon irritation, Carroll said, and “we’ve got to wait and see.”

Neal was inactive last week against the Chiefs, the first game he’s missed this year. He began starting in Week 5, taking over for Josh Jones, who had taken over at strong safety for the injured Jamal Adams.

Neal didn’t “get any work” on Friday, Carroll said, and that he’ll be a game-time decision against the Jets.

Homer has served as Seattle’s third-down back this season due in part to his great pass protection skills. He’s also a special teams mainstay for the Seahawks. He missed four weeks earlier this season with a rib injury, as well as Week 13 against the Los Angeles Rams due to a knee injury.

Goodwin has been the Hawks’ No. 3 wide receiver behind Lockett and DK Metcalf this season. He was questionable to play last week against the Chiefs and suited up, but he aggravated his injury in the second half.

The Seahawks enter this week’s matchup with the Jets at 7-8 after dropping five of their last six games. They’re currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the NFC playoff picture, trailing the 7-7-1 Washington Commanders for the seventh playoff seed in the conference. Currently, four of the seven NFC playoff spots have been clinched, including one of the three Wild Card berths.

The Jets are also 7-8 and fighting for a playoff spot. They are a game back of the 8-7 Miami Dolphins for the seventh seed in the AFC.

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