Like most NFL teams at this stage of the preseason, the Seattle Seahawks have a handful of players dealing with injuries.
Salk: Seahawks rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts ‘jumped off the page’
Here are updates on some of those players from Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald’s media sessions on Saturday and Monday, along with reporting from Seahawks.com’s John Boyle.
• Starting linebacker Tyrice Knight is “getting close” to recovering from a knee injury that he suffered in practice last week, but is now dealing with a separate “medical issue,” Macdonald said. Knight is expected to be back in time for the Sept. 7 season opener.
“He has another medical issue that we’re working through right now,” Macdonald said. “We’re not gonna give you all the details on it, but we’re working through it and we expect him to be back for the opener. But it’s gonna be a couple weeks.”
• Olu Oluwatimi, who has been battling Jalen Sundell for the starting center job, continues to deal with a back injury. Oluwatimi attempted to return to practice on Saturday, but Macdonald said the team shut him down after his back “tightened up.”
Macdonald said he’s unsure whether Oluwatimi will play in Friday night’s second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Oluwatimi didn’t play in last Thursday’s preseason opener.
• Macdonald indicated the Seahawks are being cautious with running back Kenneth Walker III, who has been sidelined at times during training camp as he deals with a sore foot.
“We have a plan for Ken, and we’re sticking to the plan,” Macdonald said.
• Macdonald didn’t have an update on veteran edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu, who opened camp on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. But Macdonald praised Nwosu for how he’s attacked the rehab process.
“He’s kicking butt,” Macdonald said. “As a matter of fact, he’s going so hard that we’ve gotta slow him down.”
• Macdonald also didn’t have an update on when veteran nose tackle Johnathan Hankins could return from his back injury, which landed him on the non-football injury list to open camp.
“It’s really just a matter of how quickly the back kind of calms down,” Macdonald said.
• Veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who has missed most of camp while tending to a personal matter, began practicing again on Saturday. Griffin signed with Seattle earlier this summer and has been expected to compete with Josh Jobe for the third cornerback spot behind Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen.
• Shemar Jean-Charles, who was expected to be in the mix for one of the final cornerback spots, has been dealing with what Macdonald described as a lower-body injury.
“I think we’re within a week to 10 days of him being out there and rolling,” Macdonald said.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Roster Move: Seattle Seahawks drop an Oregon Duck to sign a UW Husky
• Bump: A Seahawks defender who helped himself in preseason opener
• Breaking down how each Seahawks rookie draft pick did in preseason debut
• Seattle Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe impresses Bump in preseason debut
• Top Seattle Seahawks pick Grey Zabel’s pro debut draws national praise