While the injury situation for the Seahawks seemed pretty dire during Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, the news was better Monday with none of the players who left the game suffering anything serious.
“None of the guys got banged up where it’s going to take a long time,” coach Pete Carroll said. “We might have dodged a bullet a little bit in that.”
Still, Seattle seems sure to be without linebacker Jordyn Brooks for a few weeks after he suffered a sprained knee in the game, and the Seahawks could also be without safety Jamal Adams, who suffered a groin strain.
“I think Jamal is gonna have a hard time with the groin strain,” Carroll said. “That’s going to be hard for him. We’ll see if he’ll be able to make it back.”
If Adams can’t make it back, Seattle’s already injury-riddled and beleaguered secondary will have to undergo yet another change for the game against the Dolphins.
Adams’ listed backup is Lano Hill. But he sat out Sunday with a back injury. That had Seattle turning to Ryan Neal, who was elevated off the practice squad Saturday, to play most of the fourth quarter after Adams departed.
The news was better concerning running back Chris Carson, who left with a knee injury late in the game when his leg was twisted by Dallas defensive tackle Trysten Hill, a play that drew the ire of Carroll and several of Carson’s teammates.
An MRI revealed only a mild sprain, and Carroll said Monday afternoon that “Chris looked really good this morning.”
Seattle would likely start Carlos Hyde against Miami if Carson can’t go, and it also has Travis Homer and rookie DeeJay Dallas in reserve.
Here’s a further review of Seattle’s injury situation:
Jamal Adams (groin)
On his radio show on 710 ESPN Seattle on Monday morning, Carroll said Adams suffered a first-degree groin strain and that “we’ll see how that goes and go day to day with that.’’
“Was really bothering him after the game,’’ Carroll said. “He was really bummed out after the game.’’
So would be the Seahawks if Adams has to miss any significant time.
While the defense has struggled, allowing an NFL-high 497 yards per game, Adams has been a bright spot, leading the team with five quarterback hits and two sacks in being used 35 times in three games as a pass rusher, according to Pro Football Focus. He has also been a major reason Seattle is second in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed at 66.6 per game, and third in yards allowed per carry at 3.0.
Damien Lewis (ankle)
Starting right guard Damien Lewis suffered a “normal’’ ankle sprain and not a high one, Carroll said, when he was injured in the first quarter.
“Damien did better,” Carroll said. “He’s got a chance. It’s just going to take all week long to figure it out.”
Jordan Simmons replaced Lewis, and Carroll said he thought Simmons “did a good job,’’ which makes the Seahawks comfortable they can give Lewis more time to return if needed.
Carroll said center Ethan Pocic also hurt his knee in the game though Pocic did not miss a snap, but said he “looked really good this morning.”
Jordyn Brooks (knee)
Brooks suffered what Carroll called a “first-degree sprain’’ of his knee. The NFL Network reported Brooks specifically has an MCL sprain “and will likely miss a couple weeks.’’
But Monday afternoon Carroll didn’t rule out that Brooks could play this week, saying “it’s not a serious injury. We just have to wait and see if he has a chance to get back at the end of the week.”
Brooks started at weakside linebacker and played 14 snaps before being injured while being blocked hard by Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott.
“He got whacked on the knee by Elliott on a pass rush,’’ Carroll said. “We had anticipated him being a cut blocker, and he just ran right into it and got killed on the play, so it was unfortunate.’’
Brooks got the start with Bruce Irvin out for the season with a knee injury, with Wright moving to the strongside linebacker spot in the base defense. Wright stayed on the field in the nickel defense at the weakside spot.
Lano Hill (back)
Safety Lano Hill showed up Sunday reporting a sore back and was deemed inactive for the game. Carroll said Hill was worried it was related to a hip injury he suffered late in the 2018 season.
“But we don’t think it is at all,” Carroll said, adding that Hill “has a chance’’ to return for the Miami game.
Quinton Dunbar (knee)
Cornerback Quinton Dunbar also was inactive for the game after dealing with a sore knee all week.
Carroll clarified Monday afternoon that Dunbar’s injury “developed” out of the New England game.
“He’s got kind of an ongoing sore knee that we’ve got to work with,” Carroll said of Dunbar, who was acquired in March from Washington for a fifth-round pick.
“He came out of the (New England) game really sore and we did a couple things with him and treated him to try to get him back and he could quite make it. I can’t tell you about this week; I haven’t talked to him yet.”
Dunbar was replaced by Tre Flowers, who went the entire game at right cornerback, and presumably would again.
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