Paul Richardson out, defensive line thin for Seahawks vs. Minnesota

The Seahawks will again be without wide receiver Paul Richardson, whose injured hamstring will keep him out for the third straight week.

BY BRADY HENDERSON

Dec 4, 2015, 1:39 PM Updated: 3:40 pm

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“His hamstring just isn’t coming back,” Pete Carroll said of Paul Richardson&#821...

"His hamstring just isn't coming back," Pete Carroll said of Paul Richardson's injury. (AP)

(AP)

RENTON – The Seahawks will again be without wide receiver Paul Richardson, whose injured hamstring will keep him out of Sunday’s game and likely sideline him for another week if not more.

But considering how their offense has surged despite Richardson’s absence the last two games as well as the challenge that awaits the Seahawks in Minnesota, defensive-line depth might be the bigger concern at the moment.

Jordan Hill won’t play because of an ankle injury while Demarcus Dobbs has not cleared the league-mandated concussion protocol. Fullback Will Tukuafu has doubled as an extra defensive lineman, but his status us in question because he too sustained a concussion last week against Pittsburgh.

A.J. Francis, who was acquired last month and promoted from the practice squad on Monday, will see an increased role in the absences of Hill and Dobbs. At 6 foot 5 and 321 pounds, Francis’ big body could play a big role against a Vikings offense that leads the NFL in rushing behind Adrian Peterson, who’s already ran for a league-high 1,164 yards.

“He plays big and we think he’s going to hold the point real well,” Carroll said of Francis. “That’s what we’re hoping he’ll get done for us – be physical at the line of scrimmage.”

Richardson not ready

It’s becoming a lost season for Richardson, who doesn’t appear to be close to returning from the hamstring injury that he sustained in the only game in which he’s played.

That was against Arizona in Week 10. Richardson had started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list while finishing his rehab from a torn ACL in last season’s playoffs. He was hurt in the second quarter of the Cardinals game while hauling in a 40-yard reception and has yet to practice since then.

Carroll said it doesn’t look like Richardson will be available next week, either, which means it’s possible he could miss even more time beyond that.

“His hamstring just isn’t coming back,” Carroll said. “We were just disappointed that he wasn’t able to continue to get back. It’s just lingered a little bit.”

Notes

• TE Jimmy Graham had successful surgery this week to repair the torn patellar tendon in his right knee. “Looking forward to his return and his spirits are looking ahead and all that,” Carroll said. “But it was a difficult surgery for him.”

• CB Marcus Burley is listed as questionable (ankle) but Carroll said he’s expected to be available.