Final Seahawks injury report for Week 8 features a likely DK Metcalf-less world

There is certainly some good news and some bad news for the Seattle Seahawks as far as injuries heading into Week 8 compared to Week 7. Last week. Seattle dominated the Falcons in Atlanta but did so without two of their top cornerbacks, Riq Woolen and Tre Brown. That is not a recipe for long-term success.

Woolen appears set to return in Week 8, though Brown will probably continue to be out. Of the two, Brown is the more easily replaced. In Week 7, Nehemiah Pritchett and Josh Jobe filled in admirably in place of Woolen and Brown. Brown hasn't had the best of seasons, so Jobe or Pritchett might be an upgrade. That is if Jobe is elevated to the active roster again.

The bigger concern, of course, is how to likely fill the 6'4" and 230-pound void left by wide receiver DK Metcalf. Seattle has other good receivers with Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but neither is the kind of receiver that Metcalf is. Teams have to account for Metcalf's ability to extend a defense and use his speed and size to get open deep. JSN and Lockett are quicker receivers who get open underneath. Metcalf is listed as doubtful.

Seahawks and Bills final injury reports for Week 8

Without Metcalf, the Seahawks might need to use a shorter passing game and hope the run game can consistently be productive. To beat the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills, Kenneth Walker III might need to be the best player on the field. He likely will need to create yards - and explosive plays - that are not available to lesser running backs.

Defensively, Seattle is mostly healthy, especially in terms of presumed starters. The biggest question is how quickly and successfully linebacker Ernest Jones IV can help Seattle's defense be better against the run. Seattle traded Jerome Baker for Jones earlier this week.

Edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu is on injured reserve, but otherwise this is as healthy as Seattle's defense has been in some time. If head coach Mike Macdonald's scheme was going to prove to be better than former head coach Pete Carroll's scheme, this is the week Macdonald needs to show that to be true.

Seahawks final injury report designations:

• Right tackle Abraham Lucas (knee) - Out
• Wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) - Doubtful
• Nose tackle Cam Young (knee) - Doubtful
• Cornerback Tre Brown (ankle) - Questionable
• Defensive end Mike Morris (ankle) - Questionable
• Cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (ankle) - Questionable
• Right tackle George Fant (knee) - Questionable

Bills final injury report designations:

• Linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle/pectoral) - Out
• Defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) - Out
• Wide receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral) - Out
• Running back Darrynton Evans (hamstring) - Doubtful

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