Seahawks Injury Report: 4 players doubtful vs Saints, including Charbonnet

The Seattle Seahawks will likely be without several key players for Sunday’s Week 3 home matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Seattle listed running back Zach Charbonnet (foot), Pro Bowl safety Julian Love (hamstring), two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) and rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle) as doubtful on Friday’s injury report.

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Charbonnet didn’t practice on Friday, while the other three players were listed as limited participants. Macdonald said none of the four are currently considerations for injured reserve, which would require them to miss at least four games.

Witherspoon and Emmanwori both missed last week’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering injuries in the season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Charbonnet and Love both got injured against the Steelers, Macdonald confirmed, but both finished the game. Charbonnet rushed for just 10 yards on 15 carries against Pittsburgh, including minus-1 yard on three carries on the Seahawks’ final possession as they were trying to run out the clock. Love, meanwhile, played all 62 of Seattle’s defensive snaps.

Charbonnet has a toe injury, Macdonald said Friday. Macdonald previously revealed that Witherspoon has a bruised MCL and Emmanwori has a high-ankle sprain.

After facing the Saints on Sunday, the Seahawks have a quick turnaround before traveling to play the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals next Thursday night. The Saints are 0-2 and ranked dead-last in ESPN’s NFL power rankings, while the Cardinals are 2-0.

Macdonald was asked whether the upcoming matchup against a division rival on a short week impacts the team’s injury decisions for Sunday.

“It does,” Macdonald said. “(Similar to) if you were going into a bye week, those funky timetables definitely take into account. But we’re trying to do everything we possibly can to win this game.”

In one piece of good news for the Seahawks, rookie wide receiver Tory Horton doesn’t have a game status designation after being limited in practice with a groin injury earlier this week. Horton had two catches for 32 yards against Pittsburgh, including a 21-yard touchdown reception on the game’s opening drive.

If Charbonnet can’t play, George Holani would likely serve as Seattle’s No. 2 running back behind Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks also have rookie running backs Damien Martinez and Jarcadia Wright on their practice squad.

If Love and Emmanwori are out, Macdonald indicated on Friday that Seattle would likely elevate safety D’Anthony Bell from the practice squad for a second straight week. Aside from Love and Emmanwori, the only other safeties on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster are Coby Bryant and Ty Okada.

If Witherspoon is sidelined, Seattle would likely go with the same cornerback trio as last week, with Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen as the outside corners and recent waiver-claim addition Derion Kendrick as the nickel corner. Kendrick snagged a deflected pass in the end zone for a key interception in last week’s win.

Roster move

The Seahawks released wide receiver Cody White from their 53-man roster on Friday and re-signed him to the practice squad. That comes after White was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster two days earlier, likely for added receiver depth due to the uncertainty over Horton’s status. But with Horton now set to play, White is headed back to the practice squad.

Martinez, a rookie seventh-round draft pick, was released from the practice squad to make room for White.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Seattle Seahawks’ pass rush ‘creating chaos’ without blitzing
• Seattle Seahawks shuffle roster, add WR from practice squad
• Schlereth: Seahawks’ offense showed better ‘rhythm’ in Week 2
• Huard: Seahawks QB Darnold thriving at attacking the middle

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