Injury Report: Seahawks’ defense gets Diggs back, O-line may take a hit
Jan 3, 2020, 10:57 AM | Updated: 12:48 pm
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs should make his return on Sunday. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks open the playoffs with a road matchup against a familiar opponent: the Philadelphia Eagles.
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The two teams squared off in Week 12 in Philadelphia and walked away with a 17-9 victory.
Both teams have been hit hard by the injury bug this season.
Seattle is down three running backs and a starting linebacker for the rest of the season and a number of other key players have missed time in recent weeks and are banged up heading into Sunday’s contest.
Head coach Pete Carroll joined KIRO 97.3 FM’s Dori Monson for the weekly Pete Carroll Show Friday and said the Seahawks should be getting a key player back for Sunday and another starter is making good progress to return.
Safety Quandre Diggs injured his ankle Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers and has not played since. He has three interceptions, a forced fumble and a touchdown in just five games with the Seahawks. It looks like he’ll be back in the secondary on Sunday.
“He looked really good in practice all week and he’s ready to go,” Carroll said.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has battled a core injury since Week 10 and missed three games over the last six weeks, including Week 12 against the Eagles. He played last week, but hadn’t done enough in practice to be listed as even a limited participant on Wednesday or Thursday. Despite that, Clowney is set to play.
“Clowney practiced the last couple days of the week and looked like he’s ready to go,” Carroll said.
Left tackle Duane Brown missed Week 16 with a knee and biceps injury and had a minor knee surgery the next day. He is recovering from the surgery, but George Fant will likely get the start at left tackle against the Eagles.
“Duane, he’s still working his way back. Doesn’t look like he’s turning it as of Friday,” Carroll said.
Guard Mike Iupati has had a neck injury since before Week 13 and it has left his status for Sunday in question.
“Mike’s going to go all the way to game time to make sure that we get him health-wise ready to play,” Carroll said.
If Iupati doesn’t play, expect Jamarco Jones to fill in at left guard. Jones started earlier this year at right guard for D.J. Fluker and at left tackle in Week 16.
The Eagles are without their two top wide receivers, Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson, who are on injured reserve. Starting guard Brandon Brooks is also out for the year, as is running back Darren Sproles and cornerback Ronald Darby.
Philadelphia may also be without their starting tight end, Zach Ertz, who has a lacerated kidney and injured ribs. He had 12 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in Wek 12, though a lot of that came on the Eagles’ final drive when the game was out of reach. He is working to get back on the field and he can pose a problem even if he’s not 100 percent.
“(Him being a difference maker on offense) is why they’re even giving him consideration (to play Sunday),” Carroll said. “That’s an injury that you don’t play with in a couple weeks.”
You can hear The Pete Carroll Show at 12:30 p.m. every Friday on KIRO 97.3 FM.
The Seahawks will face the Eagles in Philadelphia at 1:40 p.m. Sunday, with the broadcast airing on both 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO FM. The pregame show will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Listen to Carroll’s conversation with Monson at this link or in the player below.
Follow 710Sports.com’s Brandon Gustafson on Twitter.
Who is more critical to Seahawks’ playoff success: Diggs or Lockett?
