Seahawks versus Rams Week 18 final injury reports: Seattle has the edge
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks play their final regular season of the 2022 season on Sunday versus the Los Angeles Rams. If Seattle wins, they put themselves into a position to make the postseason as long as the Packers lose on Sunday Night Football. Seattle will be down one key player due to injury, but otherwise, they appear to be OK.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks will miss the game after suffering an ACL injury in Week 17. Seattle didn’t seem to suffer much after Brooks left the game just before halftime. But the Jets’ offense is a mess right now so it could be that the Seahawks’ defensive success was due to New York’s inability to do anything well.
Whether Seattle can overcome Brooks’ absence for an entire game against a better team remains to be seen. Cody Barton will slide over to Brooks’ middle linebacker spot and Tanner Muse will take Barton’s spot. Barton, though, has a lot to play for on his own as he is a free agent after this season and should want to prove his versatility to Seattle.
Seahawks healthier than the Rams entering Week 18
In good news, while receiver Tyler Lockett is listed as questionable, the expectation is that he will play. Lockett suffered a new injury to his knee in Week 17. He was able to return to the game but didn’t produce much. Seattle needs to have Lockett on the field to have another option to throw to at wideout besides DK Metcalf.
Besides Lockett, four other Seahawks are listed as questionable. This includes guards Phil Haynes (ankle) and Damien Lewis (ankle), safety Ryan Neal (knee), and defensive end Quinton Jefferson (illness). Two guards being banged up is a worry. Jefferson was great in Week 17 and hopefully will be able to rebound from his illness before the game.
Next. 4 Seahawks playing for their next contract in Week 18. dark
The Rams are already without quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp, of course. Listed as out for the Rams on Sunday, though, are center Brian Allen, defensive tackle Aaron Donald (Seattle hasn’t had to face Donald, arguably one of the top ten defensive players in NFL history, at all this year), defensive back Nick Scott, and receiver Ben Skowronek. Los Angeles still has the talent to beat Seattle and I am sure they would relish the opportunity to basically end the Seahawks’ season if LA wins.