Seahawks place 12 players on injury lists prior to training camp
Abe Lucas, Jerome Baker, Tyrel Dodson expected to start training camp on the sidelines
Finally, Seaside Joe is back to being able to post actual news about the Seattle Seahawks. It’s not good news—and it’s not necessarily bad news—but it is news worth sharing in a second Thursday post nonetheless:
The Seahawks placed seven players on the Phyisically Unable to Perform list ahead of 2024 training camp, but any/all of them could be activated at any time and it might not end up costing their starters any regular season games.
Expected starters RT Abe Lucas, LB Jerome Baker, and LB Tyrel Dodson were placed on PUP, as well as CB Lance Boykin, S Jerrick Reed II, LB Drake Thomas, and NT Cameron Young. Any of them could be activated at any time, but if they end camp on PUP (aka at final cuts) then they will be required to miss the first four games of the season.
Lucas had knee surgery in January for an ailment that basically cost him most of last season. His immediate and long-term future is one of the most important questions needing to be answered on the Seahawks roster and we didn’t get any new information about that on Thursday. We just know that he’s starting camp on PUP, which has been expected all along. Seattle’s offseason free agent acquisition of George Fant is meant to insure against Lucas missing the start of the season, at least as far as not having to sign Jason Peters off the street in September again.
Baker, expected to be the Seahawks top linebacker after parting with both Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks in free agency, had wrist surgery in January and Mike Macdonald told reporters a couple of months ago that he wouldn’t be expected back until training camp. This doesn’t really change anything, we could still see Baker’s debut Seattle practice early in camp even if he’s not ready for day one.
Dodson, also in line to play a lot of snaps at the linebacker position, suffered a shoulder injury with the Bills at the end of last season. Most recently in June, Dodson’s injury was described as “undisclosed”.
Thursday Seaside Joe: Who are you the BIGGEST fan of on the team?
In addition to those seven players on PUP, the Seahawks also put five players on the Non-Football Injury list and they will be subject to similar rules, as in they can return whenever and it would be really beneficial for them to come back soon: G Anthony Bradford, CB D.J. James, CB Nehemiah Pritchett, LB Easton Gibbs, and WR/KR Dee Williams.
With the exception of Gibbs, all these players had an expected spotlight on them for position battles: Bradford at right guard, James and Pritchett in the secondary rotation, and Williams at kick and punt returner. Actually, we talked about James and Williams in Wednesday’s post on Seattle bubble players.
It’s not that Gibbs is of no consequence, but he’s basically the last-ranked player at the linebacker position right now. Unfortunately for him, because Baker, Dodson, and Drake Thomas are all on injured lists, this is a great opportunity for a linebacker to stand out in camp. The only ones not entering camp on an injury list are rookie Tyrice Knight, as well as Jon Rhattigan, Patrick O’Connell, and undrafted free aggent Devin Richardson.
It is at least somewhat good news that Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Fant, Laviska Shenault were all banged up during OTAs but are not on injury lists to start camp.
I once 'sprung' my knee (slightly reversed bend) and it took years to heal. But then I did not have it attended to and had to continue working to eat. Any pain in the knee is an absolute signal to get off it. I can see how Abe must take all the time needed until it no longer complains. I've 'walked off' ankle sprains, shoulder injuries. The knee is different. My bet is it is The One injury a Big Player does not want to have, especially if paychecks demand he 'plays through it'.
I was worried about our lack of quality at linebacker prior to this news, so this is really troubling, that the best of what seems mediocre won't be on the field for at least some of training camp. Hopefully they are back early. Yikes.