The Seattle Seahawks are hurting, there's no doubt about that. Heading into Monday night's major prime-time matchup with the Detroit Lions, Seattle was already missing practically the entire starting defensive line. You can guess how the backups fared against a Lions offensive line that's probably the best in the NFL right now. As it turns out, Detroit didn't even need star center Frank Ragnow to bully the Seahawks in the trenches for four humiliating quarters in a 42-29 Lions win.
Top it all off, the Seahawks also had free safety Julian Love go down with a quad contusion, and his status for this week is currently unknown. Love has been the team's best defender so far this season, so that's potentially another massive blow for a defense that was already down five key pieces on the defensive front seven if you include Jerome Baker.
The team did get at least a tiny glimmer of hope yesterday on the injury front when second-year nose tackle Cameron Young began his 21-day practice window to come off the PUP list. It sounds like may be a while longer before we see right tackle Abe Lucas and safety Jerrick Reed II do the same, though. Here's what ESPN's Seahawks beat reporter Brady Henderson shared about the situation for Young, Lucas and Reed going into Week 5.
ESPN on Seahawks PUP list
"This is the first week in which players who began the season on PUP can start practicing. Once they do, they have 21 days to be activated or they have to stay on PUP for the year. The Seahawks started that clock today for DT Cameron Young... They did not do so for RT Abe Lucas or S Jerrick Reed, who are also on PUP. They could, in theory, start that 21-day window next week, though it's a short week with a Thursday game and thus they'll likely be in walk-through mode. Also keep in mind that players coming off... long absences like this usually need at least two full weeks of practice before the can play. And remember, next week is a short one. So even if Lucas/Reed start practicing next week -- it's unclear if they'll even be ready to -- Seattle may opt to give them the full 21 days."
At least Sunday's opponent offers a respite during a brutal portion of the 2024 schedule for the Seahawks. It's clear the Lions are serious Super Bowl contenders, for one. After the Seahawks host the New York Giants this week they have to face the San Francisco 49ers, followed by the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills, all of which are likely playoff teams. We can now safely assume Lucas will be out for all of those games.
Lucas' primary backup George Fant remains on injured reserve and third-string right tackle Stone Forsythe posted the worst offensive grade on the team last week, so the Seahawks have re-signed 42-year old Jason Peters to their practice squad. Expect Peters to be elevated and start at right tackle as soon as he's up to speed, the same as last season. That may take a few weeks, though.
Not great.
Seahawks Week 5 injury report
Coming off the Monday night game, yesterday's practice was a walk-through for the Seahawks, so the first injury report of the week is only an estimation. For what it's worth, here's how it breaks down based on player designations.
Did not participate: Byron Murphy II (hamstring), Tyrel Dodson (ankle/shoulder), Johnathan Hankins (personal), Boye Mafe (knee).
Limited participation: Pharaoh Brown (foot/knee), Noah Fant (toe), Tyler Lockett (thigh), Brady Russell (shoulder), Jerome Baker (hamstring), Julian Love (thigh), Uchenna Nwosu (knee), Leonard Williams (rib), Cameron Young (knee).
Full participation: Anthony Bradford (knee), DK Metcalf (hand), Ken Walker (oblique), Derick Hall (hip), Rayshawn Jenkins (hand), Tyrice Knight (knee), K'Von Wallace (shoulder).
We'll share an update on Love specifically when we know more about his status for Sunday.
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