Benson Mayowa, Marquise Blair Inactive For Week 3 Contest vs. Vikings

After being listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report, the Seahawks will be without veteran defensive end Benson Mayowa against the Vikings.
Limited by a neck injury during practice this week, coach Pete Carroll indicated on Friday that Mayowa's status would be determined at game time. Apparently, he wasn't quite ready to play and with him being sidelined, Alton Robinson should see a significant uptick in snaps rushing off the edge.
Along with Mayowa being inactive, Seattle will be without third-year cornerback Marquise Blair, who missed practice time on Wednesday with an undisclosed knee injury. Without Blair available, Ugo Amadi will handle all of the snaps at nickel cornerback when the team is in nickel or dime packages with five or more defensive backs.
As expected, the Seahawks will also be without starting right tackle Brandon Shell and rookie receiver Dee Eskridge, who did not practice this week with a sprained ankle and concussion respectively. Jamarco Jones will step into the starting lineup for Shell on the offensive line, while Cody Thompson was called up from the practice squad and could see snaps on offense along with Freddie Swain and Penny Hart.
Capping off Seattle's inactives in Minnesota, running back Rashaad Penny remains out as he works his way back from a calf strain. Alex Collins will be active for a second straight week in his place and DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer will both be available as third-down back options. Defensive end L.J. Collier and quarterback Jake Luton won't dress as healthy scratches, with Collier being deactivated for the second time in three weeks.
The Vikings will also be without several key players, starting with running back Dalvin Cook, who did not practice all week with an ankle sprain. Third-year runner Alexander Mattison will replace him in the starting lineup. Starting linebacker Anthony Barr and first-round pick Christian Darrisaw will also be sidelined due to injury.

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.