Players Trying To Get Back For The Opener & Other Seahawks Injury Updates

With just under two weeks to go before their September 12 season opener, the Seahawks were back on the practice field on Tuesday after trimming the roster to 53 players earlier in the day. The Seahawks placed one player on injured reserve, rookie linebacker Tyreke Smith, but beyond that there are a handful of players dealing with less serious injuries who are trying to get back in time for the season opener against Denver. Here’s the rundown of what Pete Carroll had to say about those injuries following Tuesday’s practice: Outside linebacker Alton Robinson, who left last week’s preseason finale with what Carroll said is a PCL sprain, is still out but is trying to make it back for the opener: “He’s not back yet. He’s got a chance to make it by the opener, but he’s not able to go yet… He’s really sore from it, but it’s not going to be a serious long-term injury.” Fellow edge rusher Boye Mafe is also trying to get back for the opener after missing time with a shoulder injury. “He was running today, he was out there,” Carroll said. “He’s in pretty good shape to make a bid for coming back two weeks from now, so it looks promising that he’ll be OK.” Cornerback Sidney Jones IV continues to be out with a concussion. Carroll explained that Jones is feeling good, but isn’t completely symptom free so doctors haven’t cleared him to return: “They won’t let him practice yet. He feels fine, he can run and do everything, but he hasn’t been cleared yet, so he’s still getting cleared from the docs… We’re just trying to do everything right and give him a chance to play in the first game.” Carroll said fellow corner John Reid didn’t practice Tuesday because he “aggravated a soft-tissue thing, so we’ll have to wait and see how it goes.” Tackle/guard Jake Curhan has a sprained elbow, but should be ready for the opener, Carroll said: “He’s got an elbow sprain. Jake’s tough as nails, and I can’t imagine that’s going to keep him from part of the game opening night, but he’s going to miss a couple of days here.” Running back Kenneth Walker III remains out following a procedure on what Carroll called a hernia issue, though not a sports hernia. There’s still no firm timeline on his return: “This is really uncharted territory for him and for us, what he’s coming back from. He feels way better, he’s moving around, he was throwing the football around today. It’s just going to be one day at a time.” Guard Damien Lewis, who left Seattle’s second preseason game with an ankle injury, “is doing quite well,” Carroll said. “He’s running in the pool and doing some stuff, and he’s really encouraged that he’s going to be able to make it back. We’ll see.” Safety Ryan Neal, who has been out for most of camp with a high ankle sprain, “is really close,” Carroll said. “He thinks he can go. We’ve got to see, he’s to prove it of course. Probably not until next week though.” Defensive end L.J. Collier remains out with an elbow injury sustained in Seattle’s mock game early in the month. Carroll said, “He’s still got issues with his elbow getting back. He’s not back yet.” As for Smith, who missed almost all of camp with hip injuries, Carroll said of putting him on season-ending injured reserve, “It just looked like it hadn’t turned, it was going to take some time. We also thought it would be a good opportunity to develop and get right for the long haul.” In non-injury news, Carroll said running back Rashaad Penny is back with the team after missing last week’s preseason game with COVID-19.

Players Trying To Get Back For The Opener & Other Seahawks Injury Updates

Injury updates from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll following Tuesday’s practice.