Three key Seahawks seemed destined to miss Week 1 against the Broncos

On September 8, the Seattle Seahawks will play their first game of the 2024 regular season. Seattle will host the Denver Broncos in Week 1 at 1:05 pm PT. That means there is about three weeks for injured players to recover and get ready to start the season.

The three players that follow are all expected to play important roles this season. Two are presumed starters and one is needed to get the second-most reps at his position. All are currently dealing with injuries that put their status for Week 1 in doubt.

While there is time for them to return, what seems more likely is that they won't be ready. Only one has gotten real reps in training camp. The other two need to show they are healthy as well as showing they in good enough football shape that they can be productive in the Seahawks' new schemes.

Three Seahawks seemingly trending toward not playing in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos

Linebacker Jerome Baker

Baker was only signed to a one-year deal and he has a history of staying healthy. At least, that was the case until last year when Baker suffered a couple of injuries including a season-ending wrist problem. He has rarely been able to practice with Seattle so far due to various ailments, the latest of which is a hamstring issue.

This week, head coach Mike Macdonald offered somewhat of an update on Baker saying he could not give a timeline for the linebacker's return but the plan is to have Baker ready for Week 1. There was more to dislike about Macdonald's statement than like. Plus, since Baker has not gotten a lot of work in since he came to the Seahawks, one might wonder if he will have the reps needed to immediately play in Macdonald's defense after returning from being hurt.

Rookie Tyrice Knight has played a bunch of Baker's snaps in the preseason games and he seems further along than maybe the coaching staff anticipated. Knight isn't really to yet be a long-term starter, but he might be forced to start against the Broncos if Baker isn't ready.

Right tackle Abraham Lucas

Lucas has been able to run at full speed for a while now, but he has not yet practiced with the team. The hope, as with Baker, is that he will be able to return by the start of the regular season but there was also hope he would return by the time training camp started. Based on what the Seahawks have been saying, Lucas could still be back to face Denver, but that seems more of a hope than reality.

Moreover, Lucas doesn't have the reps when working with his fellow offensive linemen in the new blocking scheme of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and O-line coach Scott Huff. Studying and knowing the scheme is one thing, but actually being able to put the work in is another issue. Lucas might be running, but is his knee now strong enough to handle the punishment of blocking NFL edge rushers?

Tight end Pharaoh Brown

Brown was one of the few Seahawks tight ends to not be banged up in training camp. Then, in a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans last week, Brown hurt his foot and had to be carted off the field. That seems to imply a player who is more of a blocker and needs to use his leverage to be successful is not going to return quickly.

Seattle has not given a timeline on when Brown might return because the team might not yet know. The positive part is that Brown still has a few weeks - as do Lucas and Baker - to be healthy enough to play in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. As of right now, things don't look hopeful, though.

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