The Latest On DK Metcalf, Riq Woolen Is Back & Other Injury Updates From Seahawks Coach Mike Macdonald
Seahawks.com Senior Reporter
The Seahawks head into Sunday's game against the Bills with leading receiver DK Metcalf listed as doubtful, the result of the knee injury he suffered in last weekend's win in Atlanta.
And while the doubtful designation means it is unlikely that Metcalf, who didn't practice the last three days, will play, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald isn't shutting the door on the possibility of Metcalf playing.
"It's doubtful right now for the game," Macdonald said after Friday's practice. "It's not out of the question 100 percent yet, so we'll take it to Sunday, then we'll go from there."
Asked about Metcalf's prognosis beyond this week, Macdonald said, "We're going to see on Sunday, then go from there."
In addition to Metcalf, the Seahawks also have nose tackle Cameron Young listed as doubtful due to a knee injury, while cornerbacks Tre Brown and Nehemiah Pritchett, defensive end Mike Morris are listed as questionable. Also questionable is tackle George Fant, who returned to practice this week but is not yet on the 53-man roster.
Brown, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury, did practice fully on Friday and is, "Trending positively for the game," Macdonald said. "Anything can happen between now and then, but optimistic with Tre."
Fellow cornerback Riq Woolen, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, does not have a game designation on the final injury report, meaning he is expected back.
"Riq looks good," Macdonald said. "Looks like we're rolling with Riq on Sunday."
Running back Kenneth Walker III practiced fully after being limited on Thursday and held out of Wednesday's practice due to illness.
"I wouldn't say the guy feels like a million bucks, I think it's still affecting him a little bit, but he practiced today and he looks great," Macdonald said.
In addition to Fant, who went on injured reserve following a Week 1 knee injury, the Seahawks also got tackle Abraham Lucas back on the practice field this week, though he has already been ruled out for the game. Lucas, who had offseason knee surgery and began the year on the physically unable to perform list, is not expected back in game action until at least after Seattle's Week 10 bye, Macdonald said earlier this week. Even so, it was a good first week back at practice.
"They did a good job," Macdonald said of Fant and Lucas. "Abe's not in his spot right now, but I think he's really confident in what we asked him to do. It's exciting to see him confident and moving around how he's doing, and George has had a great week coming back."
In the meantime, rookie Michael Jerrell will make his second straight start at right tackle.
"Mike's going to start again," Macdonald said. "Again, we're confident in him, he's had another really good week of practice, and really, the message to him is, 'Hey, all the people who said you couldn't play last week are the same ones saying you're really good this week. So, no offense, but the only opinion that really matters is the guys playing next to you at this point, so you owe it to them to keep preparing and keep doing the things that put you in this spot to let us go win a football game. So everything you've got is what we need again, and we're ready to roll.'"
In non-injury news, Macdonald said new linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was acquired in a trade this week, had a good first couple of days.
"He's doing a great job," Macdonald said. "It's going to all the way up to the game to get him prepped and ready to go. There's a lot of carry over from what they were doing in Tennessee, which is great, but there are some details—you just want to make sure we're on the same page going into the game. But he's doing a great job."
Five things to know about the Seahawks matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field.
Josh Allen hasn't thrown an interception this season, and last week, the Seahawks had two interceptions – one by Julian Love and another by Coby Bryant who was making his first start this season.
Derick Hall leads the team in sacks with 5.0.
Seattle holds the NFL's fifth-best home record since 2010 with a 79-38 mark (.675), and is one of four teams with 125 wins in the NFL since 2012 (127-74-1, third-best record in the NFL).
Kenneth Walker III needs two touchdowns to become the third running back in the past 15 seasons (2010-24) with nine-or-more scrimmage touchdowns in each of his first three career seasons (Ezekiel Elliott and Jeremy Hill).
Geno Smith needs one more 300-yard game to tie himself and Matt Hasselbeck for second-place for the most 300-yard games in a single-season in franchise history with four.