Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in the third quarter of Seattle’s 34-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, coach Mike Macdonald said during a virtual news conference Monday afternoon. Macdonald said he’s “not sure” about Metcalf’s return timeline.
“Doesn’t look like it’s a long-term injury,” Macdonald said. “You guys know DK, we know DK — he’s going to probably do anything humanly possible to be able to play in this game, I would imagine. We’ll assess that as the week unfolds.”
Metcalf had four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He injured his knee while leaping and landing awkwardly out of bounds after taking a hit from Falcons safety Justin Simmons. He was evaluated on the sideline, then carted to the locker room.
“Oh man, my heart dropped,” Seattle quarterback Geno Smith on Sunday when asked about seeing Metcalf carted off the field. “I was over there just telling him, ‘Massages on me throughout the week, man.’ I put him in a tough spot right there. Whatever I’ve got to do to get him back healthy, however we’ve got to get him back — because he’s a guy that we need — we’re going to make sure we do.”
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Metcalf is the NFL’s second-leading receiver with 568 yards. Only Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals has more receiving yards (620). Metcalf caught his third touchdown pass of the season on Seattle’s final offensive play of the first half Sunday in Atlanta. He ranks 11th in the NFL with 35 receptions, which is second on the Seahawks behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba (37).
The Seahawks (4-3) host the Buffalo Bills (5-2) at Lumen Field in Week 8. If Metcalf is unable to play, it would mark only the second time in his career he has missed a game due to injury. The first came last year when a hip injury caused him to sit out Seattle’s Week 7 win over Arizona.
The next man up in Seattle’s receiver rotation would be Jake Bobo, who made the team as an undrafted rookie out of UCLA last season. He caught 19 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. His most productive game of the year was a four-catch, 61-yard effort with a touchdown in the game Metcalf missed. Bobo has eight catches for 66 yards thus far this season.
Macdonald said “we have a huge amount of confidence in our guys” when asked about players stepping up if Metcalf can’t play Sunday. The coach mentioned Bobo in addition to Dareke Young and Laviska Shenault Jr., who is most dangerous when put in position to generate yards after the catch. Macdonald also hinted at using more 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) and 22 personnel (two running backs, two tight ends) if needed.
“There’s lots of options at our disposal that are in the system,” Macdonald said. “You’re never going to fill the shoes of a DK Metcalf, but you can kind of work around it in certain ways.”
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Meanwhile, Macdonald said the team expects to get former Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen back this week, while it’s unclear whether fellow cornerback Tre Brown will be able to practice. Both sat out on Sunday due to ankle injuries.
Starting right tackle Abraham Lucas, who has not played this season while recovering from offseason knee surgery, is nearing a return to practice, although he will need time to build up before playing in a game, Macdonald said. Sixth-round rookie Mike Jerrell started Sunday in Atlanta, the third different player to start at right tackle for Seattle this season. It’s unclear whether George Fant (who is on injured reserve with a knee injury), Stone Forsythe (who missed Sunday with a hand injury) or Jerrell will start in Week 8.
(Photo: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
