After not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday due to a troublesome knee, the Seattle Seahawks have officially ruled out safety Jamal Adams for Sunday's road contest against the Tennessee Titans.
Adams, who will now miss a second straight game with chronic knee pain stemming from a torn quad tendon suffered last season, has been in the headlines this week for not being in attendance for Seattle's big win over Philadelphia on Monday Night Football. On Wednesday, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the Seahawks have considered the possibility of shutting him down for the season, but for now, the player and team are holding out hope he can play again before the end of the season.
"We’re just one day at a time," Carroll told reporters. "I admire everything about how he’s dealt with this and handled it. I’ve tried to make you guys aware, it’s a difficult injury. It’s different than a knee surgery. It’s a different case for him, and so it’s just taken a really long time. It’s been really frustrating for him, but he’s battling. He’s doing everything he can to compete to get right.”
With Adams sidelined for at least one more week, Julian Love will once again start alongside Quandre Diggs at safety. The fifth-year defender enjoyed a career game against Philadelphia on Monday night, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Year honors after picking off Jalen Hurts twice in the fourth quarter.
Along with Adams being out, Seattle won't have receiver Dee Eskridge for the fourth straight game. The third-year wideout has been nursing a painful rib injury that hasn't improved as quickly as hoped, opening the door for Dareke Young to be active in Nashville as the team's fifth receiver and a special teams contributor.
Currently under the weather with an illness, outside linebacker Frank Clark won't make the trip this weekend either. It's possible that ex-Oregon State star Hamilcar Rashed Jr., who joined Seattle's practice squad last week, could be elevated for extra depth off the edge behind Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor, and Derrick Hall.
While the Seahawks won't have Adams on defense, rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon received a questionable designation with a hip pointer. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but Carroll indicated his condition had improved and if he was able to participate on Friday, he could be available to return after sitting out Monday's win over the Eagles.
If Witherspoon can't go, veteran Artie Burns would jump in again as the primary slot cornerback with Coby Bryant available if needed.
As for running back Ken Walker III, the explosive ball carrier also received a questionable designation due to a shoulder injury that cropped up coming out of Monday's game. He didn't practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and in the event he isn't available on Sunday, rookie Zach Charbonnet would earn the start with DeeJay Dallas and Kenny McIntosh behind him.
Capping off the injury report, center Evan Brown (illness) and cornerback Tre Brown (heel) each were listed as questionable. Quarterback Geno Smith (groin), who missed the past two games and was replaced by Drew Lock under center, did not receive a designation after being a full participant in practice this week and will be back in action for the Seahawks in Tennessee.
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