Seahawks may get back key player on defense for playoffs but lose another

In the Seahawks’ losses in their final two games of the regular season, their defense had a notable absence: Quandre Diggs.

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The notable absence going forward will be Mychal Kendricks, however.

Kendricks, a starting linebacker, tore his ACL in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers and will undergo surgery to repair the knee injury, head coach Pete Carroll confirmed in a press conference Monday afternoon.

Diggs, an important midseason addition who provided a spark for Seattle at the free safety position, may be back in action in next Sunday’s first-round playoff game in Philadelphia, though.

“They’re telling me now today that he’s going to be ready to go this week,” Carroll said during the weekly segment on Danny and Gallant. “He was running and cutting but not really fully able to explode, but I’m being told by the trainers already that they think he can go, so we’ll see. He still has to make it through the week.”

Diggs has shown a nose for takeaways and an ability to lower the boom with a big hit, something the Seahawks missed in their back-to-back defeats, as they were outgained by Arizona 412 yards to 224 in Week 16 and by the 49ers 398-348 in Sunday’s regular season finale while Diggs was sidelined by a high-ankle sprain.

The Seahawks acquired the 26-year-old Diggs via trade from the Detroit Lions in late October, and he immediately made an impact in his team debut in Week 10. In a 27-24 overtime win over the 49ers, he had an interception with a 44-yard return along with two combined tackles. He added a two-interception game on Dec. 8 against the Los Angeles Rams, and one of the picks was returned for a touchdown.

While Diggs may be back in Seattle’s secondary next weekend, the team’s linebackers corps will likely take a hit for the playoffs without Kendricks. In 14 games this season, he had 71 combined tackles, three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

Rookie linebacker Cody Barton would be the likely replacement for Kendricks in Seattle’s defense.

Wide receiver Jaron Brown also suffered a knee sprain Sunday, and Carroll said Monday afternoon he won’t be available this week.

You can hear the full Pete Carroll Show in the player embedded below or at this link starting in the second half of the podcast.

More Seahawks coverage

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• Notebook: Hawks ready for ‘new season’ in playoffs after loss to 49ers
• Hawksplaining: Seahawks’ mistakes of the past linger in Week 17 loss
• 3 Key Moments: Delay of game helps sink Seattle
• Hawks will go on road, play NFC East champion Eagles in playoffs

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