⚕️DK Metcalf ailing again

4 major names on the Seahawks injury report

The Seahawks went 0-2 and scored 30 points (with an overtime) during the two games that DK Metcalf missed with a knee injury and based on this week’s injury report it appears that Seattle could be without their starting X receiver for a third time. Metcalf has not practiced this week and nobody in the media knows why because Mike Macdonald hasn’t talked to them since DK showed up on the Wednesday injury report with a shoulder issue.

Tyler Lockett (knee) and Leonard Williams (foot) were also surprising “Did Not Practice” names on the report, while Abe Lucas (knee) went from a full practice on Wednesday to no practice on Thursday.

Precaution or precariousness?

It’s difficult to project whether or not these players are trending towards active or inactive, but there are some reasonable assumptions.

WR DK Metcalf

Assumption: OUT

When Metcalf was injured last month, the early indications were that he’d be fine and then he didn’t play for three weeks (with a bye in there). There was a pattern: DNP, DNP, DNP, INACTIVE.

That’s already two DNPs this week, so Friday’s final injury report (and Macdonald’s words when he breaks silence) will say it all.

But Jaxon Smith-Njigba has thrived over the past month and Metcalf has been hard to pick out of a lineup since the first quarter of the season:

• In DK’s last five games, he’s averaging 4 catches on 8 targets for 66 yards and 8.5 yards per target

• Since catching 2 TDs in the first 3 games, Metcalf has more fumbles (2) than scores (1)

WR Tyler Lockett

Assumption: OUT

It’s a credit to Lockett’s work ethic (and business decisions) that he’s still playing 73% of the snaps for an NFL team at age 32. That being said, Lockett’s usage has taken a sharp dip in the past month despite DK missing half of those games:

• Lockett first 7 games averages: 6.6 targets, 4.3 catches, 55 yards

• Lockett last 4 games averages: 3.3 targets, 2 catches, 28 yards

The Seahawks could be resting him (but they didn’t designate these as “Rest” days) to be sure that he is healthy for Sunday since Metcalf is injured again, but do we really need to come up with reasons why a 32-year-old receiver might be having a hard time recovering each week? This is what happens to every player! Lockett has put on a masterclass of how to play until you’re 32 instead of 29 or 30.

UPGRADE: Jake Bobo, Cody White

If Metcalf and Lockett are inactive, then JSN gets an increased target share. But the Jets also have Sauce Gardner and not much of an objective for him other than to stop Seattle’s best healthy receiver. This should put Cody White (17 snaps last week) and Bobo (15 snaps) in line to have career-highs in targets.

• White (today is his birthday) was targeted 3 times against the Rams and had 2 catches for 44 yards

• Bobo (today is 116 days after his birthday) had a career-high 5 targets against the Cardinals last season when DK was out and he caught 4 of those passes for 61 yards and a touchdown

The Seahawks forming their offense around JSN as a 1 isn’t all that scary and is in fact what Seattle might need to do in 2025.

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DL Leonard Williams

Assumption: ???

Williams had the game of his life (but lost NFC Defensive Player of the Week to Coby Bryant) and now he’s missed two practices with a foot injury. It’s definitely worrisome and Williams will be trending towards a missed game if he doesn’t practice on Friday.

UPDATE: Brady Henderson noted that Williams sat last week’s WED/THUR practices, so this could be nothing.

When Williams missed Week 4’s game, the Seahawks allowed 42 points. It was to the Lions, but that’s still the team’s absolute worst defensive performance of the season. Not to mention that this is a “revenge game” for Williams.

RT Abe Lucas

Assumption: IN

Macdonald could tell reporters on Friday that Lucas “aggravated” his injury and won’t play this week, which is the constant fear with Lucas. However, Macdonald was optimistic that Lucas could play a larger role in Week 13 and he did practice in full on Wednesday, so this DNP could be related to rest.

If it’s not, the Seahawks might activate Stone Forsythe from IR (he’s practicing in full but not on the 53-man roster until the team activates him) and start him this week.

Right Guard Prediction

Macdonald, Ryan Grubb, and Scott Huff are auditioning both Christian Haynes and Sataoa Laumea for the starting right guard job this week (Anthony Bradford was placed on IR this week) so right after the team had Bradford and Lucas against the Cardinals, it could be Laumea and Forsythe against the Jets.

And my prediction is that Sataoa Laumea will start over Haynes.

Why?

Just the fact that Laumea has put himself in the conversation in late November, when Haynes was the prized pick and has had seven months to separate himself from a sixth rounder who shouldn’t be “competing” to start over him in Week 13, is an indication that coaches know Laumea is better right now. It’s just a matter of whether or not they want to admit it.

Either that or Haynes will start.

Seaside Joe 2098