It was a good day when Luke Willson re-joined the Seattle Seahawks. The fans, players, and coaching staff are all big fans of the tight end, and Seattle’s Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did nothing to deter those feelings.
Toughness is such a desired trait on the football field. With an injured tight end corps, the Seahawks needed Willson to step up. He did.
It might not seem like two catches for 20 yards is stepping up, but there was much more going on than his involvement in the passing game.
“Luke [Willson] contributed as well,” coach Pete Carroll mentioned while talking about the tight end position. “Luke was banged up [Sunday] in that game and made it through it in an enormously courageous fashion. He was hurt and just stuck it out anyway.”
Willson was battling a rib injury that cost him a handful of plays, but he returned onto the field regardless. The injury to Will Dissly and the continued absence of Ed Dickson left just Willson and Jacob Hollister, who hauled in two touchdowns, as the receiving tight ends on the active roster.
Willson does what the Seahawks ask of him, which is not usually to be a target in the passing game. He is a blocker, and he does well in that role.
While Dickson is expected to be back this week, coach Carroll still expects Willson to be ready to go on Monday even while he deals with his injury.
“He says he is,” coach Carroll said about Willson’s availability on Monday. “I believe Luke. Whatever he says, I’m going with.”
Willson will have an extra day to recover while the Seahawks prepare to play on Monday night against an undefeated 49ers team.
