Ifedi injury shakes up offensive line, again
By Dan Viens
Seahawks right guard Germain Ifedi suffered an ankle injury today in practice and did not return.
It’s the last thing the Seahawks needed to see.
After using all of the offseason plus training camp to settle on a starting offensive line, and seeing some positive signs of improvement for that key group along the way, today’s news was not good:
Germain Ifedi left Seahawks practice early with an injury and did not return. No word on severity.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) September 7, 2016
RG Germain Ifedi tangled up in scrimmage. Right leg. Looked like he'd be carted off, then he walked off--angrily--to tng room #Seahawks
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 7, 2016
The Seahawks used their first round pick on Ifedi just five months ago to address one of the team’s most glaring needs, and by all accounts he had an outstanding camp. In fact, the tandem of Ifedi, LG Mark Glowinski, and C Justin Britt looked to provide the team with a substantially improved interior line.
If Ifedi is out for this game, the continuity gained between those three will be lost. Presumably J’Marcus Webb would sub in for Ifedi at RG, but that’s how it went down today after the first round pick left the field:
When Germain Ifedi left injured, #Seahawks had Joey Hunt at C, Justin Britt at RG. Ndamukong Suh arrives w/ MIA Sunday #Seahawks #ruhroh
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 7, 2016
Huh?!?!?!?!
Hunt at center makes sense. The Seahawks have been high enough on this year’s 6th round pick that they released last year’s starter Patrick Lewis, and Pro Football Focus graded Hunt out #1 among centers in the preseason. But Britt at right guard not only induces head shakes, but perhaps more gruesome bodily reactions as well….
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The former 2nd round pick has already flamed out as a starting RT and LG, but looked like a revelation in his move to center and had an excellent preseason. Moving him on short notice to yet another position he hasn’t played as a pro makes little sense. If Webb isn’t ready to play RG, why keep him on the roster in lieu of Will Pericak, who had a good preseason, or even veteran Jahri Evans? Evans, a 4-time All Pro in New Orleans, was released on the cutdown to 53 Saturday and resigned by the Saints yesterday.
Officially, the Seahawks are listing Ifedi as “limited” in practice with an ankle injury. Maybe he’ll be able to shake it off and still play Sunday.
Next: Christine Michael to start at RB vs Dolphins
If not, the prospect of facing a Dolphins defensive line featuring Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake, among others, just got even more daunting for Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense.