Kenneth Walker III ‘Should Be Fine’ & Other Takeaways From Mike Macdonald’s Friday Press Conference
2. Kenneth Walker III “should be fine” and other injury updates.
The Seahawks listed four players as questionable for Sunday’s game, including running back Kenneth Walker III, who was a new addition to the injury report on Friday with a glute injury. Walker, who was limited in practice, should be OK, Macdonald said, and was just getting some rest for precautionary reasons.
“We’re just taking care of him today,” Macdonald said. “I’d say it’s precautionary. You never know, but I’d say it’s precautionary. He should be fine.
“It’s just maintenance on stuff that’s a little sore, but he should be good.”
Also questionable is Grey Zabel, who was limited the last two days. He will be a gameday decision, but whether or not the rookie guard plays this week, the fact that he’s even close to playing is a positive development after he left last week’s game with a knee injury.
“This guy’s a tough cookie, man,” Macdonald said. “It’s awesome to have him back out there. It’s a process, he’s going to work all the way up to gametime, but he’s confident, and it’s great to have him out there.”
If Zabel doesn’t play, second-year guard Christian Haynes would start in his place.
“He’s practicing hard, he’s doing some good things,” Macdonald said of Haynes, who finished last week’s game at left guard in Zabel’s place. “He’s going to be ready to go if we need him.”
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who returned last week after a one-game absence due to a knee injury, is questionable because of that same injury.
“His knee, really from a couple weeks ago, just working through it,” Macdonald said. “He hasn’t reinjured anything or anything, he’s just working through his knee.”
Asked the likelihood of Jones playing, Macdonald answered only, “questionable.”
Rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts is also questionable, though not due to injury. Ouzts missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practice due to a personal matter, and while he was back Friday, that is a lot of preparation for any player, let alone a rookie, to miss leading up to a game.
“Robbie had a personal matter early in the week, so he’s missed some reps,” Macdonald said. “His elbow is fine. We’re working through some roster stuff on how it’s all going to shake out, but that’s what’s going on with Robbie. He’s back and he’s with us, and we’re getting him ready, as much as we can, to go play.”
Ruled out this week are linebacker Tyrice Knight, who suffered a concussion last week, and receiver Tory Horton, who will be missing a third straight game with a shin injury.
“It’s just one of those things where we’ve just got to handle it day by day, week by week, and treat the heck out of him,” Macdonald said of Horton. “I know he’s working his tail off, he’s doing everything he possibly can to get back, it’s just one of those things where it’s just got to calm down.”
