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Brady Henderson, ESPN
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks ruled out famed receiver DK Metcalf for their NFC West matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Lumen Garden.
The Seahawks will also be without another offensive weapon in tight end Noah Fant, who was ruled out with a bruise to the groin, but they could get George Fant (knee) back after his stint on injured reserve. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV (neck) is listed as questionable.
Metcalf will miss an instant second game due to the Grade 1 MCL sprain he suffered at Speed 7. Mentor Mike Macdonald said Monday he was confident Metcalf would return this time, but the catcher has yet to practice since he struggled . the shock.
Macdonald stated Friday that Metcalf had no setbacks.
“It just needs more time,” Macdonald said. “It’s nothing I could have done differently. We just need more time for him. That’s what’s best for him and the team.”
Metcalf had missed only one game during his first five NFL seasons when he injured his right knee against the Atlanta Falcons on October 20. His 568 receiving yards were third-most in the NFL through seven weeks.
Macdonald expressed optimism that Metcalf will likely be able to return during the Seahawks’ next halftime.
“But again, with these things, we said it week by week from the beginning,” he said. “I think that’s where we are right now, so I think it’s fair to say we’re taking it week by week right now. I think that’s kind of a fair assessment.”
Noah Fant hurt his groin in practice earlier this hour. Macdonald said “it will be some time” before he returns and that his availability after the break is uncertain, but that the team does not expect to end the IR.
George Fant has moved closer to returning from IR. The veteran has practiced winger for two weeks and was once listed as a complete player on Friday, with Macdonald announcing that he “looks really good.” Macdonald declined to mention whether he will be activated for Sunday’s game, but Fant does not have an athletic designation, indicating the team considers him healthy enough to play.
Seattle hired George Fant in March to replace Abe Lucas, who continues to work to reverse the physical impossibility of achieving the record. Lucas (knee) has also practiced the last two weeks, but was ruled out for Sunday’s game, as expected.
“I don’t want to say the schedule, because really the schedule is that we continue to make progress and then we’ll make a decision after the break about where we are,” Macdonald said. “He’s gaining confidence, he’s working hard, he’s comfortable being uncomfortable to a certain extent. That’s where we are right now.”
Jones did not continue the following Friday because his neck became stiff, according to Macdonald. Seattle (4-4) came in late at linebacker in a duel with the Tennessee Titans, who had acquired him before the start of the season from the Rams.
“We’ll take it day by day,” Macdonald said. “We just took care of him today.”
Cameron Young’s nasal version (knee) was also ruled out.
Macdonald said he still expects outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (quad) and defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins (hand) to return from IR at some point this season.
The Rams (3-4) are street favorites by one point this weekend, according to ESPN BET.
