Seahawks GM thinks Abe Lucas will play this season; 3 other starters may miss opener
Abe Lucas was supposed to be back by now.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald has said the starting right tackle’s recovery from knee surgery this winter has been slower than the team expected. Lucas, from Washington State and a two-year starter his first two NFL seasons, remains on Seattle’s physically-unable-to-perform list. League rules state he must miss at least the four games of the season that begins Sept. 8.
That and the fact Lucas has not practiced since January are signs Lucas won’t be playing anytime soon.
Yet he remains training in the team’s weight room and doing straight-line drills such as pushing a conditioning sled across the turfed, indoor practice field.
Wednesday, general manager John Schneider was asked if he has any concern Lucas will not play this season.
“I don’t, no,” Schneider said. “No. I think we’re just being as cautious as we possibly can.
“We’re gonna play the long game with him and make sure we’re doing things appropriately. Like, this is for his career. It’s not just for the 2024 season. We want to make sure that we are doing the right thing by Abe, and which also is the right thing for the Seattle Seahawks.
“And we have to be careful with it. Sam (Ramsden, the team’s vice president of player performance) and David Stricklin (head athletic trainer) and those guys have a great plan for him. And we’ll keep working that plan.
“This has nothing to do with Abe’s, like, work ethic or anything. He’s attacked this thing as much as he possibly can. So it’s just where we are right now.”
Asked what exactly Lucas had repaired in his knee, Schneider said: “I’m not going to get into specifics with it.”
Connor Williams no sure thing for opener
Macdonald has said the team’s plan is for Connor Williams to start at center week one against Denver.
To get him there, the Seahawks have been pacing Williams, 27, into more participation in practices. That’s since he signed his one-year contract with $3 million guaranteed this month and got on the field for the first time two weeks ago. Williams tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee eight months ago. That ended his two seasons as the Miami Dolphins’ starting center.
Schneider said it’s not sure thing Williams starts the opener.
“We don’t know that yet,” the GM said. “I think that’s going to be up to, you know, Mike and the coaching staff and the offensive coaches, and Sam and Strick and see how everybody feels about it. He’s doing whatever we can to get ready.”
Olu Oluwatimi, the team’s fifth-round pick last year, would start the opener if Williams isn’t ready in a week and a half.
Uchenna Nwosu’s status
The Seahawks believe the knee injury top outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu got in the final preseason game Saturday when Cleveland guard Wyatt Teller dived into his left knee helmet and shoulder first with a cut block is going to keep him out two to six weeks.
When the team set its initial 53-man active roster for the regular season Tuesday it did not put Nwosu on injured reserve designated to return. The Seahawks would have done that if they believe he’d be out into mid-October; IR-designated-to-return players must miss a minimum of four games, per NFL rules.
Schneider was asked if Nwosu not being on injured reserve is a sign the team believes he will be back in a couple weeks, perhaps missing only a game or two.
“Yeah, we hope so,” Schneider said.
“If you guys have spent time with ‘Chenna, like, this is a pro, now. Like, the guy attacks a day like you want every professional football player to attack it.
“He’s a man, now, and he’s going to do everything he can to get back.”
Rayshawn Jenkins update
Rayshawn Jenkins was running Wednesday, Schneider said. That was seven days after the starting safety left a practice one scrimmage play into it with an apparent calf or lower-leg injury.
He hasn’t practiced since.
“He’s doing well. Yeah, he’s doing well,” Schneider said. “He was out running this morning. I think everybody feels good about where he’s at. He’s made progress.
“But whether or not he’s able to go (for the opening game), we don’t know that yet.”
Veteran, fellow first-year Seahawks K’Von Wallace has been the safety on the starting defense paired with 2023 Pro Bowl selection Julian Love during Jenkins’ absence.
This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Seahawks GM thinks Abe Lucas will play this season; 3 other starters may miss opener."
