Defensive tackle Jason Jones isn’t a starter on Seattle’s defense, but he is still a key player, particularly on passing downs. So it is not good news for the Seahawks that Jones is doubtful with an ankle injury for Sunday’s game against Detroit, one of the pass-happiest offenses in the NFL.
“He’s going on the trip, and we’ve got him down as doubtful,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
Assuming Jones can’t play, that will mean an increased role for rookie Greg Scruggs, who has seen his role increase in the past few weeks, and recorded his first sack in last week’s loss to the 49ers. But even if the Seahawks are happy with the play of Scruggs, they know that not having Jones is a blow. Jones has 2.5 sacks this season, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story of how disruptive he has been as an interior rusher, one who often collapses the pocked and disrupts the quarterback even if he isn’t recording a sack.
“He’s really important,” Carroll said, “It’s a really big deal if we can’t get him out there. We’re starting to learn how to rush together and we have a chance to get pretty good here as we grow together. Jason’s a big deal, he’s been involved in a lot of stuff. He’s got two or three sacks, but he’s been involved a bunch and been a factor, so we’ll miss him if we can’t get him out there… He’s so long, he’s got that kind of slither rush to him, sneaky.”
Guard John Moffitt, who has missed four games with a knee injury, is listed as questionable. Even if he is ready to return, however, Moffitt is not yet ready to start, Carroll said.
Cornerback Walter Thurmond, who practiced this week for the first time, is eligible to come back from the PUP list, and Carroll said a decision has been made about whether or not Thurmond will be activated for this weekend. Carroll would not, however, tell us what that decision is. So stay tuned. Thurmond can stay on the PUP list for another week if the Seahawks feel he isn’t game ready.
Friday injury report
SEAHAWKS
Out
WR Doug Baldwin (ankle)
CB Byron Maxwell (hamstring)
Doubtful
DT Jason Jones (ankle)
Questionable
G John Moffitt (knee)
Probable
RB Marshawn Lynch (back)
LIONS
Out
CB Jacob Lacey (concussion)
S Amari Spievey (concussion)
Doubtful
LB DeAndre Levy (hamstring)
Questionable
DE Cliff Avril (back)
S Louis Delmas (knee)
WR Titus Young (knee)
Probable
WR Calvin Johnson (knee)
TE Brandon Pettigrew (knee)
LB Stephen Tulloch (knee)
DT Corey Williams (knee)
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