Seattle Seahawks: Secondary to be missing four of five starters against Denver
By Keith Myers
Don’t expect to recognize any of the Seattle Seahawks starting secondary when they take the field against the Denver Broncos on Friday. Instead of the Legion of Boom, we’ll be getting the “Legion of Whom?”
Not one of the top seven defensive backs from the 2014 season will be playing. Free agent addition Cary Williams is the only projected starter who is going to be in uniform.
Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon are both still on the PUP list. Simon is expected back Week 1 of the regular season. Lane isn’t expected back until around midseason.
Earl Thomas is no longer on the PUP, but he still hasn’t practiced. Pete Carroll aid he’s still a week or 2 away. He should be ready for Week 1, but likely won’t play in the preseason this year.
Richard Sherman is nursing a minor hip flexor strain and is being held out as well. It isn’t thought to be serious. Projected nickel cornerback Will Blackmon is also being held out because of a sore groin.
Of course there is also Kam Chancellor who has yet to report to camp. His contract holdout continues and does not appear to be have an ending in sight.
If you’re counting players, the other two from the “top seven” from last season that I mentioned were Byron Maxwell and Jeron Johnson. Both of them left in free agency to bigger paychecks than the Seahawks were able to offer them.
That’ll leave the Seattle with a starting secondary of Williams and Marcus Burley at corner, with Steven Terrell and DeShawn Shead as the safeties. The nickel corner will likely be Mohammed Seisay, who was acquired via trade a week ago.
Ultimately, this is what the preseason is for. Burley, Terrell, Shead and Seisay will see plenty of playing time. So will safety Dion Bailey and WR-to-CB convert Douglas McNeil. The Seahawks will be able to get a good long look at all of these players to help determine which of them will be sticking around on the roster this season.
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