There are only a few hours left until the Seattle Seahawks kick off the most important game of their season, as they take on the Los Angeles Rams with first place in the NFC West on the line, but fans are still wondering if a key player will run out of the opponent's tunnel at Lumen Field on Thursday night.
Star wide receiver Davante Adams is in jeopardy of missing the game after re-aggravating a hamstring injury in Week 15 against the Detroit Lions. According to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar, Adams has been a DNP in practice each week, and he was downgraded to doubtful on Wednesday's injury report.
It would be a major break for the Seahawks to avoid playing Adams, who leads the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions. However, Rams head coach Sean McVay hasn't officially ruled Adams out for Thursday Night Football, calling the All-Pro's status a game-time decision.
The Seahawks may have dodged a bullet if Davante Adams can't play
There was immediate speculation that Adams would miss time after he exited in the fourth quarter of Week 15. The 32-year-old wideout went to the turf on a non-contact play, reaching back for his hamstring mid-route, and McVay told reporters after the game that Adams' injury "didn't look good."
Given that, it's surprising Adams even has a shot to play in Week 16 against the Seahawks. It's possible the "last-minute decision" is simply gamesmanship from McVay, attempting to muddle the Seahawks' defensive strategy.
On the other hand, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Good Morning Football that the Rams were considering using Adams exclusively in red zone packages, where the six-time Pro Bowler thrives. That could indicate a real possibility that Adams suits up tonight, even though it appears unlikely.
"I'm not ruling anyone out," McVay told Rams senior staff writer Stu Jackson on Wednesday. Along with Adams, defensive end Braden Fiske is also a game-time decision.
"We'll take it a day at a time with those guys," McVay added. "It'll just be a practice projection so they'll both be DNPs, but we'll take it all the way up to game time and see where they're at."
The Rams head into Lumen Field with the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 30.0 points per game. While Los Angeles has plenty of other playmakers to contend with, Adams is a key cog in their gameplan, especially near the goal line. He's quarterback Matthew Stafford's preferred red-zone target, hauling in nine of his 14 touchdown catches from inside the five-yard line.
If Adams is ruled out tonight, it will be the first game he's missed this season. The Rams' offense could look significantly different without him. They'll also have to rely more on rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield, who has just five catches for 42 yards and one touchdown on the year.
For the Seahawks, avoiding Adams could decide their hopes of winning the NFC West and securing a first-round bye. After dealing with numerous injuries in the secondary earlier in the year, the Seahawks' defense is fully healthy and may be able clamp down, or at least limit, a red-hot Rams offense.
It's the always-fascinating setup of an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. The Seahawks have surrendered the second-fewest points this season, allowing a stifling 17.3 points per game. They've been particularly dominant over the last three weeks, holding opponents to a paltry 8.3 points per game, which is best in the NFL.
The pivotal Week 16 matchup kicks off at 5:15 PST. As of now, it looks like the Seahawks will have to wait right up until that moment to know if Davante Adams will be lining up across from them.