Seahawks Notes: Wagner continues to impress
Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 20, 2016
By Rich Myhre, Nick Patterson and Jesse Geleynse
Herald Writer
SEATTLE — On one of the NFL’s best defenses, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner continues to play at a very high level. Against Philadelphia, he had five solo tackles, 10 assists, a 9-yard sack, one other tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit.
“I’m having a good season,” Wagner acknowledged. “It’s just one of those seasons where I felt like I’ve been on. I’m grateful for my (defensive) linemen for keeping guys off me. It’s really those guys that’s allowed me to (be successful).”
Yes, Wagner has been outstanding, said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, and so has fellow linebacker K.J. Wright
“(Wagner) and K.J. are playing great,” Carroll said. “They’re just playing top line, as good as you can do it in football.”
Wright had six solo tackles, four assists, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed against the Eagles.
Ryan sets franchise
Back on Sept. 9, 2008, one week into the NFL regular season, punter Jon Ryan signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Little did anyone realize, including Ryan himself, that he was beginning what would turn into a very long and successful stay in Seattle.
In Sunday’s 26-15 victory over Philadelphia, Ryan played in his 137th consecutive game with the Seahawks, setting a franchise record. He broke the former mark of 136 consecutive games that he had shared with ex-Seattle lineman Chris Gray, who played with the Seahawks from 1998-2007.
“As an offensive lineman, to play 136 games is obviously a lot more impressive than what I’ve done,” Ryan said Sunday. “I have a lot of respect for what he did, but it also means a lot for me to have broken that record.”
The 34-year-old Ryan, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, spent two seasons in the Canadian Football League before signing with Green Bay in 2006. He played two seasons with the Packers before being released and then signing with Seattle one game into the 2008 season. His consecutive-game string started in Week 2 of 2008.
Back then, Ryan said, “I was just trying to survive. It was really one week at a time. I was just happy to be on a team. Once you get cut, you never know what’s going to happen and I’d been cut from Green Bay, so I was just so grateful to be picked up here.
“I never thought it would last for 137 games, but it’s something that I’m proud of,” he said.
On one of the NFL’s best defenses, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner continues to play at a very high level. Against Philadelphia, he had five solo tackles, 10 assists, a 9-yard sack, one other tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit.
“I’m having a good season,” Wagner acknowledged. “It’s just one of those seasons where I felt like I’ve been on. I’m grateful for my (defensive) linemen for keeping guys off me. It’s really those guys that’s allowed me to (be successful).”
Yes, Wagner has been outstanding, said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, and so has fellow linebacker K.J. Wright
“(Wagner) and K.J. are playing great,” Carroll said. “They’re just playing top line, as good as you can do it in football.”
Wright had six solo tackles, four assists, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed against the Eagles.
Veterans left inactive
The Seahawks left a pair of veteran offensive linemen inactive Sunday. Tackle Bradley Sowell was declared ready to come back from his knee injury during the week, but did not suit up, and tackle J’Marcus Webb was also a healthy scratch. Those two being out meant the only offensive linemen in reserve were rookies Rees Odhiambo and Joey Hunt. Odhiambo had to play briefly during the second quarter when left tackle George Fant came out temporarily with a shoulder injury.
Seattle did get a pair of players back from long-term absences. Running back Thomas Rawls (fibula) played for the first time since Week 2, while tight end Luke Willson (knee) played for the first time in a a month.
Carson Wentz, the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, has already set Philadelphia rookie records for pass attempts, completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He also has the highest passer rating and completion percentage by an Eagles rookie.
But at times on Sunday he looked very much like a rookie against a veteran Seahawks defense.
“He was poised,” said Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman. “He wasn’t shook – he’s a (rookie). That’s what he is. He has been kind of getting an easy walk through this league. And then he ran into some people who have been there before.
“We’ve seen your looks, we know your plays. He’s going to learn from it and he’s going to work hard and come back.”
Familiar face
Seattle Mariners All-Star Robinson Cano raised the 12th Man flag before the game. He got a noisy ovation from the crowd of 69,190, a CenturyLink Field record.
