Injuries, offensive woes concern Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. – There were going to be questions about where the Seattle Seahawks are headed on offense after Sunday’s 30-23 loss to Dallas.

Marshawn Lynch touched the ball only 10 times. Russell Wilson threw for 66 yards after the first quarter and Percy Harvin finished with zero yards receiving despite making three catches.

The bigger concern could be the list of injuries the Super Bowl champions are suddenly dealing with now.

Cornerback Byron Maxwell, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and center Max Unger are in question for Sunday’s game at St. Louis with a variety of injuries.

Maxwell was thought to have a high ankle sprain after going down in the second quarter on Sunday, but was diagnosed Monday with a calf strain that should get him back on the field sooner than first expected.

Unger has a strained foot that kept him inactive on Sunday and his status against the Rams likely won’t be decided until the end of the week.

The severity of Wagner’s turf toe injury has not been determined, but could be the most significant. Wagner was injured early in the second quarter on Sunday, but returned in the second half.

Undrafted rookie Brock Coyle filled in when Wagner was out on Sunday. Seattle has used K.J. Wright at middle linebacker in the past when Wagner was sidelined, but coach Pete Carroll would not commit one way or the other.

“We’ll have to wait and see on that one,” Carroll said.

And tight end Zach Miller is not expected to be back this week after having ankle surgery during the bye week.

KCPQ-TV in Seattle reported Monday that tackle Russell Okung has been playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder suffered in Week 3 against Denver. Carroll didn’t confirm the report, but said Okung suffered a shoulder sprain and should be able to continue playing without issue.

About the only good news Seattle received among its injured players is the expectation that cornerback Tharold Simon will have a chance to play against the Rams and safety Kam Chancellor made it through Sunday’s game without problems despite a strained hip.

Seattle was able to avoid major injury issues last season and when it did there was enough depth to plug the gaps. That depth was thinned through free agency and roster decisions in the offseason.

The injury problems muted the concerns about Seattle’s game plan against Dallas. Lynch seemed an afterthought as was most of Seattle’s run game.

The Seahawks led the league in rushing entering Sunday, but the 18 total rushing attempts was the second time in five games Seattle failed to get 20 carries.

The Seahawks seemed more concerned with trying to get the ball to Harvin – six total touches for (minus)-1 yard – than utilizing Lynch.

Carroll took responsibility for the lackluster effort, that included problems getting off the field defensively on third downs, saying he didn’t do a good enough job in preparation after the Monday night win over Washington.

“I think we’re still working at it. Sometimes it takes quite a while before you find it and we’re not quite there yet because we haven’t found the consistency,” Carroll said.

“We know what we’re trying to do … but we’re just not quite there yet.

Seahawks ‘flexed’

Seattle’s game at Carolina on Oct. 26 will air on CBS as part of the NFL’s new “cross-flexing,” the league announced on Monday.