By Gregg Bell
The News Tribune
The Seahawks appear to be fortunate in their latest spate of injuries to some of their most important players.
Especially compared to what could have been.
Magnetic resonance imaging exams since Seattle’s 38-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday showed All-Pro safety Jamal Adams, lead running back Chris Carson and rookie first-round pick Jordyn Brooks have “first-degree strains” instead of more serious structural damage. That’s what coach Pete Carroll told KIRO-AM on his weekly radio show Monday morning.
Carson, who had 64 yards on 14 carries Sunday, crumpled to the turf and stayed there for minutes at the end of a 2-yard run with 3 minutes remaining. Cowboys defensive tackle Trysten Hill tackled Carson then rolled his leg over after the tackle, a move hated across all levels of football.
Carroll was candid describing what he thought of what Hill did.
“I was really pissed about that. …That guy hurt him,” Carroll told KIRO-AM Monday.
Carroll said Carson “has a first-degree strain. We’ll have to see how that goes.”
There’s a strong likelihood Carson will not play Sunday when the Seahawks (3-0) play at the Miami Dolphins (1-2). Carlos Hyde would start if Carson cannot play.
“The running back, (knees) are a little more of an issue than the big guys,” Carroll said.
Rookie starting right guard Damien Lewis got good news on his injury that had him leave the Cowboys game for good in the first quarter. X-rays at the stadium Sunday were negative.
“He sprained his ankle. A normal sprain, not a high-ankle sprain,” Carroll said Monday morning on the Danny and Gallant Show on Seattle’s 710 ESPN radio. “It was pretty sore after the game.
The coach said Lewis “has a chance to play” in Miami this weekend.
“We’ll just see how he responds to it,” Carroll said. “For an offensive lineman, he has a better chance” than maybe players at other positions that have to run more and farther during games.
High-ankle sprains involve damage to ligaments up from the ankle into the lower leg. They can have recovery times of a month or more. So a “garden-variety” sprain of the ankle joint itself, lateral twisting, is a far better situation for recovery.
Jordan Simmons replaced Lewis for the final three-plus quarters of Seattle’s win over Dallas. Carroll said Simmons played well, as he has in spot roles at guard since the 2018 season.
Carroll said the groin Adams strained against the Cowboys “was really bothering him after the game. He was really bummed out, because he really wants to play so badly. …
“He, too, had a first-degree strain. So we’ll have to see how that goes,” Carroll told KIRO. “We’ll just have to be day-by-day by that.”
Brooks made his first NFL start against Dallas to replace Bruce Irvin at strongside linebacker. Irvin went on injured reserve last week and needs season-ending knee surgery. Then Brooks injured his knee passing rushing into a Cowboys’ offensive lineman during during the second half against the Cowboys.
Cody Barton replaced him. Barton likely will play for Brooks in Miami with K.J. Wright again starting at strongside in base 4-3 defense that Seattle again played just 30% of the time against Dallas.
Carroll termed Brooks’ injury “minor,” as well. But because Brooks runs the entire field as a linebacker his return isn’t likely to be as quick as Lewis’. It’s likely Brooks won’t play against the Dolphins this weekend, and could miss the home game against Minnesota Oct. 11.
“He has a first-degree strain. We’ve got to see what happens as he goes through it. It just depends how he responds,” Carroll said. “It’s a little harder for the linebackers and the running backs with the knee. But we will see.”
Carroll told 710 ESPN starting cornerback Quinton Dunbar (knee) and dime defensive back Lano Hill (back) have “a chance” to play against the Dolphins, “particularly Lano.”
The Seahawks started 2018 and ‘19 starter Tre Flowers against Dallas, and went nickel with five defensive backs and Ugo Amadi instead of nickel and six DBs against the 57 passes from Dak Prescott and the Cowboys.
Dallas gained 472 yards passing. Seattle’s pass defense has allowed Atlanta’s Matt Ryan 450 yards, New England’s Cam Newton 397 yards and Precott 472 yards so far this season.
