It’s been a tough summer for the Seahawks, with a number of players sitting out battling injuries. The rookies have been hit particularly hard, including Seattle’s top three draft picks from April, who have all been sidelined.
The first to fall was first-round selection, defensive end L.J. Collier. Collier suffered a rare type of ankle sprain at the start of training camp and has yet to resume practice. Coach Pete Carroll is still hopeful he can return by the start of the regular season.
“He’s feeling good,” Carroll said Friday. “He’s looking and moving around a lot. He’s getting closer. He’s making really good progress. I don’t know what the timeline will be there. He’s pushing it now and that’s good to know.”
On Sunday night, safety Marquise Blair was carted off the field in the second half of the Minnesota matchup with apparent back spasms. His status for the immediate future is unclear.
“I don’t know what that means right now,” Carroll told reporters. “His back got tight, kept getting tighter.”
Finally, rookie wide receiver DK Metcalf, who has been an active participant throughout camp, has been scheduled to undergo some minor surgery on his knee. Carroll made the surprise announcement after the Vikings game, explaining why the rookie didn’t suit up for the night.
“The docs really had a clear look at the MRI, what it is,” Carroll explained. “They think it’s a really quick recovery. I think we’re going to keep him in town, get the work done right away. Be very optimistic about the way it goes.”
The setbacks to Seattle’s rookies are particularly disappointing for Seattle, who is still looking to plug holes at their various positions. The Seahawks have an off day Tuesday and Carroll is expected to update the players’ status following Wednesday’s practice.
