For the second time in three weeks, the status of Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin won’t be determined until gameday.
Baldwin, who did not practice all week due to a hip injury, is officially listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the Vikings, and will work out pregame to determine his availability.
“He’s just barely making it through the week right now,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “It’s going to be all the way up until game time before we know.”
Baldwin was in a similar situation two weeks ago when the Seahawks faced the Carolina Panthers, but was able to play, catching five passes for 39 yards. Carroll said Baldwin’s injury, while different than the one he was dealing with prior, is related.
“It’s a little bit different than what it was, but it’s related,” Carroll said. “It’s not the same injury.”
This is the continuation of what has been a physically trying season for Baldwin, who has dealt with numerous injuries dating back to the summer. He missed almost all of training camp and the preseason with a knee injury, but still made it back for the season opener, only to injure his other knee in that game. After missing two games with a knee sprain, Baldwin returned and has not missed a game since despite dealing with groin and elbow injuries on top of the previous knee issues.
“It’s been a really hard year for Doug,” Carroll said. “He’s a guy that doesn’t miss anything. He’s had to learn how to just get through the weeks and survive. He’s had a number of things that have bothered him during the season. His attitude is just ridiculously strong. You can’t imagine how competitive he is and how he will just will his way back on the field. We can’t pass judgement on anything until the last second with him because he’s just been a phenomenal competitor to get out on the field. It has been hard on him. It hasn’t been the year at all he had hoped to have. He’s ready to jump in there and do whatever he can as soon as he can get that done.”
On a more positive note, defensive tackle Shamar Stephen, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, practiced fully and is not listed on the final injury report, meaning he’s ready to go against his former team.
“He’s ready to go,” Carroll said. “He has had a great week, he’s full-on, and we’re happy to have him back. It really worked out well to break him last week, he needed that, and he came back flying this week, so we’re really happy to have him back. It’s fun for him to play against his old squad and all that too, and I’m glad he’ll be ready for that.”
The Seahawks will be without right guard D.J. Fluker, who injured his hamstring in last week's win over the 49ers. Jordan Simmons, who also replaced Fluker in Seattle's Week 10 loss at the L.A. Rams, is expected to make his second career start. Two other players are listed as questionable, running back Rashaad Penny (ankle) and fullback Tre Madden (chest), though Carroll did not provide updates on their status. Penny practiced fully on Friday, while Madden was limited.
Linebacker K.J. Wright will again be out this week because of a knee injury, but Carroll indicated he is making progress in his rehab.
“Today was his first day of really running—I don’t know what the result was,” Carroll said. “Leading up to it, all of the ramping up has been really on point. He’s felt no discomfort at all. That’s a really positive sign for him to get right. It’s going to still be a bit because we got to get him back into shape and all that because he’s missed some time.”
Here are the injury reports for both teams:
Seattle Seahawks
Out
LB K.J. Wright (knee, did not participate in practice)
Doubtful
G D.J. Fluker (hamstring, did not participate in practice)
Questionable
WR Doug Baldwin (hip, did not participate in practice)
RB Rashaad Penny (ankle, full participation in practice)
RB Tre Madden (chest, limited participation in practice)
Minnesota Vikings
Out
TE David Morgan (knee, did not participate in practice)
CB Trae Waynes (concussion, did not participate in practice)
WR Chad Beebe (hamstring, did not participate in practice)
Questionable
LB Eric Kendricks (rib, limited participation in practice)
Seahawks vs Vikings Through the Years
The Seahawks and the Vikings will meet for the 15th time in the regular season this Sunday in Seattle. Take a look back at photos from past games played between the two teams.
Fran Terkenton, Minnesota Vikings Quarterback, is about to be sacked by Seattle Seahawks tackle Dick Harris (77) on Dec. 14, 1976. (AP Photo)
Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks heads into the end zone for a touchdown during second quarter action against the Minnesota Vikings, Aug. 23, 1986. David Evans (40) is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Dan McGwire (10) hands the ball off to Lamar Smith during the third quarter of their pre-season game against the Minnesota Vikings in Husky Stadium in Seattle, Aug. 20, 1994. The Seahawks beat the Vikings 30-19. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander, right, leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Trent Dilfer (4) completes a pass to Taco Wallace as Minnesota Vikings' Chris Hovan (99) is blocked during the first quarter in Seattle Thursday Sept. 2, 2004. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Antoine Burns (19) runs with Minnesota Vikings' Nick Rogers (58) and Rushen Jones (31) giving chase on a 74 yard pass play during the second quarter in Seattle, Thursday Sept. 2, 2004. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (23) breaks up a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper intended for wide receiver Kelly Campbell (16) during the fourth quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004. The Seahawks beat the Vikings, 27-23. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, right, looks to pass as Minnesota Vikings tackle Kevin Williams closes in during the first half, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006, in an NFL football game at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' Nate Burleson (81) runs on a 53-yard punt return as Minnesota Vikings' David Herron (58) and Naufahu Tahi give chase during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 8: Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks players line up at the line of scrimmage prior to the snap during the game between the Seattle Seahawks against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on August 8, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 34-17. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck throws against the Minnesota Vikings in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Seattle Seahawks running back Maurice Morris, center, leaves Minnesota Vikings defenders Vinny Ciurciu (bottom) and Leger Douzable (99) on the turf and Tyrell Johnson, top right, in the air while running for a first down in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 8,2008, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson is sacked by Seattle Seahawks' Julian Peterson to end the second quarter in a football game in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Golden Tate (81) leaps over Minnesota Vikings' Josh Robinson (21) for a touchdown late in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) sets up to pass while being pressured by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) during an NFL game on November 17, 2013. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 41-20. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch rushes against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Referee Ed Hochuli, center, speaks during the coin flip at CenturyLink Field before a preseason NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cassius Marsh (91) pressures Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Case Keenum in the second half of an NFL football preseason game, Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is stopped by Seattle Seahawks defenders including linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and strong safety Kam Chancellor (31)in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin runs with a reception in action against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL wild-card playoff football game on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 in Minneapolis. The Seahawks won the game, 10-9. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (32) hurdles Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jabari Price during the first half of an NFL football preseason game, Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
