Seahawks notebook: LB Mychal Kendricks (knee) heading to IR
Dec 12, 2018, 3:27 PM | Updated: 3:45 pm
Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks made his return from suspension on Dec. 10. (AP)
(AP)
The Seahawks have a chance to clinch a playoff spot this Sunday with a Week 15 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Before they hit the field, though, they’ll need to figure out a personnel issue at linebacker: Pete Carroll confirmed Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks will miss the remainder of the season during his weekly press conference Wednesday.
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Here’s more on that – and other notes – from Seahawks’ headquarters:
Mychal Kendricks out for season
Kendricks’ return from an eight-game suspension has been cut short with Carroll’s announcement that the Seahawks linebacker will land on the team’s injured reserve list and undergo season-ending surgery. Carroll hinted the team would be interested in having Kendricks return next season. This is dependent, obviously on the length of Kendricks’ upcoming sentencing for insider trading.
“Mychal’s going on IR,” Carroll said. “He needs to get work done on his knee. He got caught in a situation, just got hit on the outside of his knee, and it got him. In unbelievable fashion, he finished the game. And it was early enough that he fought through it the whole time.
“It’s just been such a difficult season for Mike. My heart goes out to him. He wants to be part of this thing so badly, but he doesn’t get to this time around. We look forward to getting him back next time and keep him with us.”
Carroll didn’t specifically confirm an earlier report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that called Kendricks’ injury a broken tibia, but did say Kendricks’ upcoming surgery would focus on a few issues.
“There’s a little nick in there or something,” Carroll said when asked about the report. “There’s a couple things they’re going to work on. It’s not a terrible knee injury, but it’s going to take a little bit, it’s at least six to eight weeks kind of a situation.”
K.J. Wright (knee), Seattle’s regular starter, was able to get some running in and participated in Wednesday’s walk-through, but is not expected to play Sunday.
The team will presumably turn to Austin Calitro, who has had four starts this season. Calitro, 24, has 35 tackles in 2018 and split a sack with defensive tackle Jarran Reed in Week 11.
“He played really good against (the 49ers) last time out,” Carroll said of Calitro. “He’s been able to be really consistent with his run fits. We really don’t have any problem with him playing at all.”
Baldwin, Fluker have a (slim) chance to return
Wide receiver Doug Baldwin and right guard D.J. Fluker have a chance to return for Week 15, but by the sound of it their chances are slim.
Baldwin (hip) and Fluker (hamstring) were both inactive Monday against the Vikings. Baldwin was able to participate in Wednesday’s walk-through before practice.
“We’ll see how (Baldwin) does this afternoon,” Carroll said. “We’re just going one day at a time with Doug and never expecting anything other than he may pull off another one of his miracles and get back and play. So, his mind is set on doing that. We’ll see how he makes it through the week. I can’t tell you right now.”
Notes
• Running back Rashaad Penny is dealing with a sore knee. An examination of Penny’s knee revealed no issues, but because of swelling the team will rest him a bit. Monday’s injury to strong safety Maurice Alexander has been clarified as a concussion.
