Seahawks’ O-line banged up as Brown, Fluker both doubtful vs Browns

Oct 11, 2019, 1:42 PM | Updated: 4:35 pm

Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown has been dealing with a lingering biceps injury. (Getty)

(Getty)

Seattle Sports

The Seahawks are most likely going to run the ball early and often Sunday against Cleveland. They just might have to do so without two of their starting offensive linemen.

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Both left tackle Duane Brown and right guard D.J. Fluker are listed as doubtful on Seattle’s injury report released Friday afternoon ahead of the 10 a.m. Sunday contest with the Browns, which will air live on 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM.

It’s not a surprise to see Fluker listed as doubtful. He did not practice this week after leaving the Seahawks’ Oct. 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury. Seattle didn’t seem to be counting on Fluker playing Sunday when they started their practice week on Wednesday, either.

“Fluke’s got a hamstring that we’re working on,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said at the time. “He can’t practice right now. He’s not ready to go.”

Brown, who has been dealing with a lingering bicep injury since Week 3, is more of a cause for concern. The four-time Pro Bowler was listed as questionable going into the Rams game (he ended up playing 100% of Seattle’s offensive snaps), so with him missing practice all week it’s safe to say the state of his bicep is heading the wrong direction.

“He’s going to go in doubtful right now,” Carroll said about Brown during his availability with reporters Friday. “That means that when you’re as optimistic as I am, there’s a chance.”

Carroll added that Brown’s bicep is “not responding as well as we had hoped” and said it was “heroic” that he played through the injury in the Seahawks’ previous game.

“He just toughed it out. It was hard and really uncomfortable,” Carroll said. “He wouldn’t say anything about it and finished the game. Got it done. He was hurt and he knew it and played with it. Made it through it. We have to take care of him. … It’s not that he didn’t let us know. He just toughed his way through it and that’s what happened. Couldn’t have been more admirable the way he pulled off a great game for us.”

Rookie Jamarco Jones had a strong showing filling in for Fluker against the Rams and should figure to see time somewhere on Seattle’s offensive line if one or both of Fluker and Brown are inactive Sunday.

Guard Ethan Pocic, who would have been another option to see playing time on the line, not only was downgraded Friday afternoon to out for the game after initially being listed as questionable but was shortly after placed on injured reserve. Seattle then called up guard Jordan Roos and tight end Jacob Hollister from the practice squad and waived safety Adrian Colbert. Pocic has been dealing with a mid-back issue and last played in Week 2.

Running back Rashaad Penny is the only questionable player for the Seahawks. He has a hamstring injury, and while he was added to the injury report for Thursday’s practice, he was a full participant both Thursday and Friday. Penny missed Seattle’s Week 3 and Week 4 games but had six carries and two receptions last week against Los Angeles.

Running back Chris Carson (shoulder) and defensive end Branden Jackson (neck), whose names were on Seattle’s injury report earlier in the week, are both good to go for Sunday.

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