Two key Seattle Seahawks set to return, two starters out vs. 49ers

On By Littum

Standout wide receiver DK Metcalf and right tackle Abraham Lucas are poised to return from injury during the Seattle Seahawks’ matchup with the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but the team’s starting center is calling it quits.

Health of several players key factor in Seattle Seahawks vs 49ers

Metcalf (knee) and Lucas (knee) did not have injury designations on Friday’s final injury report. But head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters that starting center Connor Williams is retiring due to personal reasons.

Williams, who was also ruled out on the injury report, had not practiced this week. The veteran has played every snap at center this season.

Macdonald said second-year pro Olu Oluwatimi will start at center against the 49ers.

Starting tight end Noah Fant (groin) and fourth-string tight end Brady Russell (foot) were ruled out for Sunday’s game.

Metcalf has been a full participant in practice since Wednesday. He missed the last two games after suffering an MCL sprain while trying to make a sideline catch in Seattle’s Oct. 20 game at Atlanta. The wide receiver had missed just one other game during his six-year career.

Metcalf is tied for the team lead with 568 receiving yards and three touchdowns. At the time of his injury, Metcalf was third in the NFL in receiving yards.

“He’s ready to go and yes, of course we’re excited to see DK out there,” Macdonald said. “He’s practicing great.”

Macdonald said the team expects to see Lucas in a “pretty significant way” on Sunday.

“We’re still on a progression here, so the amount of reps that he’s going to get, we’ll see as the game progresses,” Macdonald said. “We have a plan, we have a goal rep count. We’re kind of going to leave it in the house right now, but excited to see him go and do his thing.

The third-year right tackle from Washington State missed Seattle’s first nine games after having offseason knee surgery due to a lingering issue that forced him to play in just six games last season.

Lucas started the season on the physically unable to perform list and returned to practice on October 23. The Seahawks activated Lucas from the PUP list on Wednesday, and he was a full participant in practice Thursday for the first time since his return.

Related: What are realistic expectations for Abe Lucas in potential returns?

With Lucas out, Seattle has used three different right tackles, two of whom (George Fant and Stone Forsythe) are currently on IR. Rookie sixth-round pick Michael Jerrell will also be available at right tackle. He has started two of the past three games and played at least 79% of the team’s offensive snaps in each.

Noah Fant will miss his second straight game. Rookie fourth-round pick AJ Barner pulled the start in his absence against the Rams in Week 9 and is expected to do so again.

Macdonald said Fant is “making progress” in recovering from his groin injury and will not be placed on injured reserve.

The absence of both Noah Fant and Russell leaves the team with just two tight ends on the active roster – Barner and veteran Pharoah Brown. The Seahawks added tight end N’Keal Harry to the practice squad on Monday. The former first-round draft pick, who converted to tight end from wide receiver this past offseason, could be elevated to the active roster Saturday for additional tight end depth.

Outside linebackers Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder) and Boye Mafe (knee), defensive end Leonard Williams (foot), safety Coby Bryant (illness) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (rest) did not appear on the report after carry designations Thursday.

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