Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf to Miss First Game of NFL Career vs. Arizona Cardinals
Despite practicing in limited fashion on Friday and receiving a questionable designation on the team's final injury report, the Seattle Seahawks will be without star receiver DK Metcalf when they face the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field.
Called a game-time decision by coach Pete Carroll following Friday's practice due to a nagging hip injury suffered last weekend in a loss to the Bengals, Metcalf will miss the first regular season game of his career, snapping a 71-game streak dating back to his rookie season. Prior to deactivating him, the Seahawks elevated veteran receiver Easop Winston from the practice squad on Saturday as insurance.
Without Metcalf, Seattle will be leaning on bigger contributions from rookie receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo, who have caught a combined 20 passes from quarterback Geno Smith through five games this season. Veteran Cody Thompson may also see more action on offense after playing just 20 snaps in the first month of the season.
Unable to get over the hump by game day with a sore hip, DK Metcalf will miss the first game of his career for the Seahawks against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Metcalf won't be the only notable offensive players not in uniform for the Seahawks against the Cardinals either. Continuing to deal with injuries along the offensive line, the team will be without starting center Evan Brown and right guard Phil Haynes, who missed practice time this week with hip and calf injuries respectively. In their absence, rookies Olu Oluwatimi and Anthony Bradford are expected to start in the interior, while veteran Joey Hunt was signed from the practice squad for extra depth.
In the backfield, Seattle will also be without rookie running back Zach Charbonnet, who didn't practice at all this week with a hamstring injury. Already preparing for him not to be available, the team elevated SaRodorick Thompson from the practice squad and the undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech will make his NFL debut as the third running back behind Ken Walker III and DeeJay Dallas.
Rounding out the Seahawks inactives list, linebacker Devin Bush will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive week with the team favoring Jon Rhattigan over him for special teams duty. Despite not receiving an injury designation on Friday, cornerback Artie Burns will be held out for a third straight week after missing a pair of games with a hamstring injury.
In the trenches, Seattle opted to make McClendon Curtis active over fellow undrafted rookie Raiqwon O'Neal. With right tackle Jake Curhan likely to start at less than 100 percent due to an ankle injury, Curtis will serve as his backup with Stone Forsythe also capable of playing right tackle in a pinch if necessary.
