Duane Brown could make his return on Sunday against Packers

The Seattle Seahawks are hoping left tackle Duane Brown (knee) will return for the team’s divisional round matchup against the Packers

The Seattle Seahawks were short three starters on the offensive line on Sunday against the Eagles, with Duane Brown and Mike Iupati joining Justin Britt on the shelf.

The results weren’t pretty, particularly in the run game where the Seahawks only mustered 19 yards on 17 carries between their two backs, Travis Homer and Marshawn Lynch.

Reinforcements might be on their way however, as coach Pete Carroll reported that Brown has begun getting some work in and could make it back in time for Sunday’s game against the Packers.

“Duane did some work yesterday and is doing work again today,” Carroll said before practice on Wednesday. “He won’t practice today, but it’s an encouraging sign about him making his return. So we’ll see what happens. We won’t know until late.”

Brown missed the final two regular season games with a “pissed off knee“, and while the team is taking caution with their veteran tackle, his presence is much needed on Sunday if he is able to go.

Not only is Brown a strong pass and run blocker, he frees up George Fant to play his regular role as the team’s sixth lineman/tight end, which is a crucial part of the team’s run packages.

Brown’s status will be updated throughout the week, and his health will go a long way toward getting Seattle into the NFC championship game for the first time since the 2014 season.

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Seahawks place linebacker Mychal Kendricks on injured reserve

The Seattle Seahawks placed linebacker Mychal Kendricks on the injured reserve, promoting tackle Chad Wheeler from the practice squad.

The Seattle Seahawks officially placed linebacker Mychal Kendricks (knee) on the injured reserve, ending his 2019 season.

Seattle used the roster spot to promote tackle Chad Wheeler off the practice squad, adding depth on the offensive line.

“Today, just happened,” Carroll confirmed to media members on Wednesday when asked about Kendricks and the injured reserve. “You’re gonna see Chad Wheeler’s gonna come up.”

Kendricks started 14 games for the Seahawks in 2019, recording 71 combined tackles, four passes defended, three sacks and one interception, lining up as the team’s SAM linebacker.

However, a torn ACL suffered in Seattle’s regular season finale against the 49ers forced the team to turn to rookie Cody Barton, who started his third career NFL game on Sunday against the Eagles and recorded five combined tackles, one sack and two passes defended.

Barton will be counted on again on Sunday against Green Bay, although the Packers reliance on Davante Adams out of the slot could push Seattle into more nickel packages.

Wheeler has been a member of Seattle’s practice squad for most of the year. The tackle has appeared in 27 NFL games, making 19 starts, all with the New York Giants.

His experience as a starter and familiarity with coach Mike Solari should allow him to step in and contribute right away, making him an important depth option.

Seattle could be without both Duane Brown and Mike Iupati again on Sunday, which pushes both Jamarco Jones and George Fant into starting roles and leaves the team with just Wheeler as depth at either tackle spot.

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Latest Draft Wire mock draft has Seahawks taking defensive tackle

The Seattle Seahawks select a defensive tackle, a guard, and a cornerback in the latest three-round mock draft from Draft Wire.

The Seattle Seahawks have advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs and are all set to take on the Packers in Green Bay on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a peek at how the roster could get re-shaped during the 2020 NFL draft.

Despite a stellar 2019 season, Seattle clearly has some holes on its roster, holes that Luke Easterling of Draft Wire believes they will look to fill in the first three rounds of the NFL draft.

In his latest three-round mock draft for Draft Wire, Easterling has the Seahawks picking No. 28, No. 60 and No. 63 overall based on current standings and trades.

With those picks, Seattle is mocked to select Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, Michigan guard Ben Bredeson, and Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

“Free agency could decimate this defensive line this offseason, so don’t be surprised if the Seahawks opt for cheaper, younger talent in the draft to replace whatever they lose on the open market,” Easterling wrote about Davis. “Davis is huge, athletic, and versatile, and is ready to make an immediate impact.”

Davis is more of a run-stuffer than a pass rusher, which may not make him an ideal fit for a Seattle team that already has Poona Ford in the middle, but if Jarran Reed doesn’t return the team could opt to replace him with another Alabama product in Davis.

Bredeson is projected as a starting guard at the NFL level, and – unsurprisingly – is more of a run-blocker than a pass-protector. With both Mike Iupati and D.J. Fluker potentially free agents after this year (depending if Fluker opts out) the team could certainly use more guard play up front.

Ethan Pocic may slide over to the starting center role, and having Bredeson and Phil Haynes to build around on the interior – not to mention Jamarco Jones, who seems to have transitioned to guard – would be a good start toward building a line Russell Wilson can succeed behind.

Johnson would join Cody Barton and Marquise Blair as former Utes on the Seattle defense, and his length and range as a cornerback will no doubt be attractive to coach Pete Carroll.

Seattle’s depth behind Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers is extraordinarily thin, and while Johnson may need some time to develop he has all the tools to be a legit shutdown corner in the NFL, with the proper molding from Carroll and company.

The Seahawks are no doubt focused on the task at hand against Green Bay on Sunday, but these three players are among the many they will be in on during draft season.

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A look at Seahawks’ injuries ahead of divisional round in Green Bay

The Seattle Seahawks hope to see the return of a few injured players in time for the divisional round matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

The Seattle Seahawks were able to get by the Philadelphia Eagles and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs despite a number of players battling injuries.

“All in all, we came out pretty clean of the game – pretty healthy,” Coach Pete Carroll told reporters Monday. “Still don’t know about a couple guys. Don’t know about Ziggy [Ansah] right now at this point. Don’t know about the guys that missed the game going forward to this week. I can’t tell you much about those guys until we get into this week, but I’m sure you’ll ask. Going to Green Bay. Here we go.”

Besides Ansah (stinger), Carroll did provide a number of other updates on players who will be monitored this week.

Guard Mike Iupati (neck): “He had a few episodes the week before,” Carroll explained. “Just didn’t quiet down in time. It has quieted down when he’s had the episodes in the past. He’s still symptomatic today. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen this week.”

Tackle Duane Brown (knee/biceps): “I can’t tell you until we get him back out here,” Carroll said. “He’s doing some stuff with the guys right now. I don’t have any updated information for you. We’re trying to see if he can get back.”

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core): “So far, he’s okay,” Carroll confirmed. “It sounds like, the report I just got is that he’s playing this week. He’ll be alright to make it. We’ll have to manage him throughout the week.”

The Seahawks have an off day Tuesday but return Wednesday to prepare to face the Packers.

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After struggling at tackle, Jamarco Jones proving his worth at guard

After getting destroyed by Chandler Jones a few weeks ago, Seattle Seahawks lineman Jamarco Jones had a strong outing on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks have struggled with health all across their offensive line this season, which has lead to inconsistencies and, at times, problems in both run and pass protection.

Last week Seattle was without both guard Mike Iupati and tackle Duane Brown, which pushed Jamarco Jones into starting duties at left guard alongside George Fant.

Jones struggled mightily the last time he was called upon to start, when he replaced Brown at left tackle against the Cardinals, but he stepped up in a big way on Sunday against the Eagles.

“Jamarco did a nice job though, particularly in pass protection he held up really well and he came through for us,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. “That’s a couple times, he had a big game earlier in the year, a couple big games at guard on the other side. Shows really good versatility and really good smarts. He played hard and tough and did a nice job, particularly in the throwing game.”

Jones originally came to Seattle as a tackle prospect, but he has had far more success filling in at right and left guard than he has on the outside – a sign he may be groomed as a replacement guard in the near future.

Jones, like the rest of Seattle’s offensive line, struggled to run-block on Sunday, which contributed to Seattle’s 19 rushing yards on 17 carries.

However, if he can continue to demonstrate proficiency as a pass blocker, he has a chance to carve out a nice career on the interior for the Seahawks.

In the meantime, Jones may have to prove himself again on Sunday against the Packers, with Iupati still dealing with a stinger that Carroll reported got worse last week, and still hasn’t gone away.

“He had a few episodes the week before and it just didn’t quiet down in time,” Carroll said. “It has quieted down when he’s had the episodes in the past, [but] he’s still symptomatic today. So I can’t tell you what’s going to happen this week.”

If Iupati cannot go, Jones will be counted on in a big way on Sunday against a 13-3 Packers squad that can create problems up front.

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4 former Cardinals in playoffs with Seahawks, Eagles

Check out the former Cardinals in the postseason for the final game of the weekend.

The Arizona Cardinals did not make the playoffs this season, but many of their former players are now on playoff teams. There were seven former Cardinals on the rosters of the Texans and Bills, who played Saturday afternoon. Another four are on the rosters of the Titans and Patriots, who played Saturday night. Another four are on the Vikings and Saints, who play Sunday.

The wild-card game of the weekend is between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. Two former Cardinals are on each team.

Seahawks WR Jaron Brown

 Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Brown was with the Cardinals five years after signing as an undrafted rookie out of Clemson. He is in his second season with the Seahawks. He had 16 catches this year for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

He is questionable for the game on Sunday with a knee injury.

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Pete Carroll updates Seahawks injury situations ahead of Week 17

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll provided a litany of injury updates ahead of the team’s Week 17 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Seattle Seahawks head into Christmas with a brand new backfield, although the two new names aren’t exactly unfamiliar ones.

Still, Seattle has a lot of work to do to get Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin up to speed before they take on the 49ers on Sunday night.

Fortunately, it sounds like many of Seattle’s other starters are on their way back to the field, which should help shore things up, in particular on the defensive side of things.

Carroll confirmed that both Jadeveon Clowney and Shaquill Griffin practiced on Tuesday, and their status looks very promising for Sunday. That gives Seattle two huge components of their defense back after they missed Sunday’s dud against the Cardinals.

Carroll was much less confident about safety Quandre Diggs.

“It’s going to be slow early in the week,” Carroll said on Wednesday. We’re going to take it all the way until the end of the week and see how he responds. . . It’s going to be slow. It’s going to be later in the week before we know anything about him.”

Carroll had similar thoughts about SAM linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who did play on Sunday but has been nursing a hamstring injury for the past few weeks.

“He made it through,” Carroll said. “He’s a little sore from the work. I won’t know how he’s doing until later in the week.”

Lastly, Carroll provided an update on the left side of the offensive line, starting with guard Mike Iupati.

“Mike is practicing today,” Carroll said. “Seems to be alright.”

Carroll reported the minor surgery Duane Brown had went well, but that they won’t know much about his status until later in the week.

“No surprises, but a very necessary clean up that was needed,” Carroll continued. “He’s just a couple days out. He just got back here today, I think. We don’t know a whole lot. Everything was reported to be exactly like they had anticipated and there were no surprises.”

The Seahawks won’t practice on Wednesday, but an estimated practice report will come out in the afternoon and will give fans an idea of how close many key pieces to the team are to playing on Sunday in a battle for supremacy in the NFC West.

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Updated Seahawks injuries ahead of Vikings matchup Monday night

Here’s a look at the Seattle Seahawks player injury updates ahead of the Week 13 contest against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

The Seattle Seahawks need every available healthy player Monday night when they square off against the Minnesota Vikings in primetime.

A number of players have been battling an illness that has been going around the team, but coach Pete Carroll expects everyone affected should be cleared to play for the Week 13 matchup.

Carroll also provided a number of injury updates after practice concluded Saturday afternoon.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core): “We just practiced him very lightly today, but he did well yesterday and he’s fine,” Carroll said. “He should be ready to go.” Defensive tackle Jarran Reed (ankle) is “ready to go” as well.

Defensive tackle Al Woods (ankle):  “He had a sore foot and we just made sure we gave him rest on it,” Carroll explained. “He practiced today and he looked fine.”

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks: (hamstring): “Yeah, he had a little tightness in his hammy yesterday, so we thought we’d rest him today and get a couple days here to cool him down,” Carroll noted. “He takes a lot of reps in practices and loves to really go. We just thought it’d be best to rest him and see what happens. We don’t need to check him on gameday, though.”

Tight end Luke Willson (hamstring):  “He made really good progress,” Carroll said. “He was flying up and down the field. We got to be careful with this one because we just don’t want it to linger. We’ll make a late decision on this one.”

Guard Mike Iupati (neck):  “He’s been limited a little bit during the week, but he’s ready to go,” Carroll confirmed.

The complete Week 13 injury report can be found here.

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