physically unable to perform – Syndication Server

Seahawks RT’s Abe Lucas and George Fant to return to practice

For what feels like a lifetime at this point, the Seattle Seahawks finally received good news when it comes to the health of their offensive line! On Wednesday it was reported both Abe Lucas and George Fant are officially returning to practice after missing extended time.

Lucas began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to lingering recovery from knee surgery he underwent in January. Lucas’ health has been a growing concern for the Seahawks, as he missed eleven games last year, and has already been out for seven in 2024. Still, it is a good sign he is finally able to get back to practice.

Head coach Mike Macdonald did mention that while Lucas is back at practice, he is not gearing up to return to games just yet. Sadly, this does include this coming weekend’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

As for George Fant, Lucas’ immediate backup, it is also positive he is returning to practice. Like Lucas last year, Fant was injured in Seattle’s Week 1 game, and was placed on injured reserve in late September.

Both players now have a 21-day window of practice to prove they are capable of being activated to the 53-man roster. If they are unable to get ready by then, they will be shutdown for the remainder of the season.

Hopefully, they will not need the entirety of the 21 days allotted to them. While rookie Michael Jerrell played admirably in his start last weekend, the Seahawks need both Lucas and Fant back in action to help this struggling offensive line.

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Saints to ramp up Juwan Johnson ‘slowly but surely’

Dennis Allen says the Saints are taking the slow and safe route with Juwan Johnson, but he acknowledges the value in the timing of Johnson’s return:

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson returned to practice on Tuesday. It was the team’s first open practice at Yulman Stadium, and fans were treated to something special. Publicly, Johnson’s path to return took expedited turn north when he was removed from the physically unable to perform list.

Now that Johnson has returned, Saints head coach Dennis Allen says the plan is to “slowly but surely start to ramp him up.” They’re excited to have him back. Johnson’s return comes at a good time for the team.

“We need him, we need (Rashid) Shaheed, we need some of these players that we’re counting on in the passing game, so we can get the timing and the rhythm in the passing game,” Allen said after practice.

Johnson has missed the entirety of camp while recovering from offseason foot surgery. These two weeks before the season opener will be vital for him actually getting reps in the new offense. He’s surely continued to study and learn the playbook, but there’s no replacement for actually running the plays.

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Saints add veteran tight end Miller Forristall to training camp PUP list

The New Orleans Saints added veteran tight end Miller Forristall to the PUP list before training camp, meaning six players are sidelined by injuries to open camp:

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There’s no need to panic — this happens every summer. But it’s still discouraging to see a New Orleans Saints team that’s been plagued by injuries in recent years opening training camp with at least six players sidelined.

On Thursday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, the Saints announced that veteran tight end Miller Forristall will open camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) due to an undisclosed injury. Like the other players on the list he can be activated at any time; last year, Michael Thomas started camp on the PUP list and was a full participant at practice the next day.

Forristall, a former starter at Alabama in college, was signed on a reserve/future contract earlier this year after starting his NFL career with stops on the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns. He’s known more for his blocking ability than his receiving skills, but the tight end-friendly Saints offense should offer him opportunities to compete for a roster spot once healthy.

Here are all of the players currently on the PUP list:

OL Nick Saldiveri (rookie from Old Dominion)
CB Anthony Johnson (rookie from Virginia)
TE Miller Forristall

And these three players on the non-football injury list, which works the same way in practicality but carries some minor contractual differences for bookkeeping purposes. Hopefully they all return to good health soon:

RB Kendre Miller (rookie from TCU)
WR A.T. Perry (rookie from Wake Forest)
WR Shaquan Davis (rookie from South Carolina State)

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Rashaad Penny, Quinton Dunbar officially return to Seahawks practice

Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny and cornerback Quinton Dunbar have officially been designated to return to practice in Week 14.

The Seattle Seahawks began their workweek preparing to face the New York Jets on Wednesday with two familiar faces back on the field – running back Rashaad Penny and cornerback Quinton Dunbar. Both players have been officially designated to return to practice as expected.

Penny has spent the entire season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, recovering from the ACL tear he suffered one year ago against the Rams.

“We’re really excited to get him back on the field with us,” coach Pete Carroll had said Monday. “It’s just been a long haul. It’s very meaningful for him to get back out there. You really want to see him bang his breaks and really get down and hit it and give good tempo in practice.

“I’ve said it the whole time, the last thing we’re going to do is rush the timing of this.”

Dunbar is now eligible to return from injured reserve after his placement due to a nagging knee injury.

Penny and Dunbar don’t count against the 53-man roster until they are officially activated.

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Sunday’s performance could open up big role for Phil Haynes in 2020

Seattle Seahawks guard Phil Haynes impressed on Sunday against the Packers, in what amounted to an audition for a bigger role in 2020.

For most of the second half in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks employed rookie Phil Haynes at left guard in place of Jamarco Jones.

It was the first game action for Haynes, save for a single snap on special teams in the wild card game against Philadelphia.

Haynes battled a sports hernia during training camp and was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list for the first six weeks of the season. He was activated on November 5, but spent the rest of the year as a reserve, just trying to get caught up after missing so much time.

Haynes evidently did enough to earn playing time on Sunday, and he took advantage of the opportunity, impressing coach Pete Carroll in what amounted to an audition for a job in 2020.

“Phil did a good job,” Carroll said on Monday afternoon. “What we’ve seen in Phillip is that he’s really strong and he plays real square. He did it in that game, he did very well. Was really pleased to see him, he’s had such little play time since he’s been here, so it was great to see him do well.”

Starting left guard Mike Iupati is a free agent, and right guard D.J. Fluker could opt out of his contract and test free agency as well, so there’s definitely an opportunity for Haynes to step into a starting role in 2020.

Time will tell if he gets that chance, but having a strong performance under his belt, in a playoff game no less, certainly helps his odds.

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