The Seahawks travel to Nashville this weekend for a Week 12 contest against the Titans, and before the team departed on Friday, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald met with the media to give some updates on his team, and also share his passion for a cause near and dear to his heart.
More on that and other Seahawks news from Macdonald's Friday press conference:
1. Macdonald's cause for My Cause My Cleats is a personal one.
Macdonald talked to the media with a pair of custom sneakers in front of him on the lectern. This weekend, players, coaches and staff around the league will be wearing cleats or shoes representing various causes as part of the league's My Cause
My Cleats initiative, and Macdonald is representing the RYR-1 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports research leading to an effective treatment or cure for RYR-1-releated diseases.
That cause is particularly important to Macdonald because his 9-year-old nephew, Lucas, has a form of muscular dystrophy.
"It's an organization that supports rare diseases, particularly muscular dystrophy," Macdonald said. "My awesome nephew, Lucas, has a form of muscular dystrophy, and he's doing great. It's a great support system, they do a lot of great research, a lot of great awareness. They're making a lot of progress too, which is really exciting. There's a lot of people, especially young people that have that disease, and it's a great community for them and also a great support, and they'll hopefully find some great solutions as we go and help them out."
"I'm proud to wear the shoes, and I love the fact that the NFL does this, it gives our players and our staff an opportunity to support causes that we love and want to bring awareness to."
2. Kenneth Walker III "should be fine" and other injury updates.
The Seahawks listed four players as questionable for Sunday's game, including running back Kenneth Walker III, who was a new addition to the injury report on Friday with a glute injury. Walker, who was limited in practice, should be OK, Macdonald said, and was just getting some rest for precautionary reasons.
"We're just taking care of him today," Macdonald said. "I'd say it's precautionary. You never know, but I'd say it's precautionary. He should be fine.
"It's just maintenance on stuff that's a little sore, but he should be good."
Also questionable is Grey Zabel, who was limited the last two days. He will be a gameday decision, but whether or not the rookie guard plays this week, the fact that he's even close to playing is a positive development after he left last week's game with a knee injury.
"This guy's a tough cookie, man," Macdonald said. "It's awesome to have him back out there. It's a process, he's going to work all the way up to gametime, but he's confident, and it's great to have him out there."
If Zabel doesn't play, second-year guard Christian Haynes would start in his place.
"He's practicing hard, he's doing some good things," Macdonald said of Haynes, who finished last week's game at left guard in Zabel's place. "He's going to be ready to go if we need him."
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who returned last week after a one-game absence due to a knee injury, is questionable because of that same injury.
"His knee, really from a couple weeks ago, just working through it," Macdonald said. "He hasn't reinjured anything or anything, he's just working through his knee."
Asked the likelihood of Jones playing, Macdonald answered only, "questionable."
Rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts is also questionable, though not due to injury. Ouzts missed Wednesday and Thursday's practice due to a personal matter, and while he was back Friday, that is a lot of preparation for any player, let alone a rookie, to miss leading up to a game.
"Robbie had a personal matter early in the week, so he's missed some reps," Macdonald said. "His elbow is fine. We're working through some roster stuff on how it's all going to shake out, but that's what's going on with Robbie. He's back and he's with us, and we're getting him ready, as much as we can, to go play."
Ruled out this week are linebacker Tyrice Knight, who suffered a concussion last week, and receiver Tory Horton, who will be missing a third straight game with a shin injury.
"It's just one of those things where we've just got to handle it day by day, week by week, and treat the heck out of him," Macdonald said of Horton. "I know he's working his tail off, he's doing everything he possibly can to get back, it's just one of those things where it's just got to calm down."
3. The Seahawks watched Kenny Easley highlights this week.
Macdonald isn't old enough to have watched Kenny Easley when he was a dominant safety in the 1980s, but he has plenty of respect for the Hall of Famer and Seahawks Legend, who died last week at the age of 66. Seahawks players will wear No. 45 helmet stickers the rest of the season to honor Easley, and earlier in the week, defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Karl Scott played Easley highlights for players.
"Karl played a highlight video for our DBs this week, which I thought was really cool," Macdonald said. "Man, what a tremendous player. Our prayers go to him and his family. What an awesome player, really, really awesome."
The Seahawks continued their week of practice on Thursday November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) and defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) and linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Doug Kramer Jr. (68) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Doug Kramer Jr. (68) and guard Bryce Cabeldue (77) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) and guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94) and guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde at practice on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (24) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (32) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Thursday, November 20 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
