The NFL doesn’t require Mike Macdonald to disclose injury information until Wednesday so Jerod Mayo and the rest of us – at least for the time being – aren’t sure what to expect when the Seahawks travel cross-country to meet New England this week.
Running back Kenneth Walker and right tackle George Fant will headline the injury report following their first practice in preparation for Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium (1 p.m. ET, FOX). In Seattle’s Week 1 victory over Denver, Fant left early with a knee injury and did not return.
Walker had 103 yards on 20 carries (5.2 avg.) in the 26-20 win, including a go-ahead 23-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave Seattle a lead it would not relinquish. However, he left with an abdominal injury in the fourth quarter.
The Walker injury isn’t as much of a concern as Fant. Walker told reporters after the game he expected to be fine for New England, but injuries have riddled Seattle’s offensive line. Stone Forsythe came off the bench to play 57 of 64 offensive snaps in place of Fant, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The Seahawks also called Walker’s number on four consecutive carries over Forsythe’s right side during a third-quarter scoring drive. Macdonald liked what he saw from Forsythe.
“He did a solid job,’’ Macdonald said Monday. “We ended up winning the football game. There’s a couple pass rushes he gave up on the edge, and we’ll get those cleaned up. But came in, we ended up winning the game, so winning football for us.”
Winning football wasn’t something the Seahawks played in the first half against Denver. The Broncos took a 13-9 lead into halftime thanks in part to two second-quarter safeties, one caused by a holding call against right guard Anthony Bradford in the end zone. Denver also sacked Geno Smith twice in that first half.
Should the Seahawks look to change starting personnel on their line, Condotta said, their options include rookie seventh-round pick Michael Jerrell and practice-squad player McClendon Curtis.