The Seattle Seahawks had an additional week to heal and restore their bodies ahead of the NFC Divisional Round. That will be a must against a San Francisco 49ers' hard-hitting team that's playing with house money already.
That's why the fans will love to hear that Mike Macdonald's defense will be pretty close to full strength. At least, that will be the case with veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, whose name had surprisingly popped up on the injury report earlier in the week.
According to Seahawks reporter John Boyle, Coach Macdonald just confirmed that Lawrence's injury designation was just a precaution. While he's dealt with some discomfort in the Achilles, he's fully expected to suit up and play without any limitations.
Seattle Seahawks' DeMarcus Lawrence will play in the NFC Divisional Round
Being without Lawrence could've been a massive blow for the pass rush. He played a season-low ten snaps in Week 4 and missed Week 5 with a quad injury, but he didn't seem to be limited or bothered by any injury for the rest of the season. In fact, he led all Seahawks pass rushers in snaps played this season (626).
The former Cowboys star was instrumental in the Seahawks' defensive success this season. His Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grade of 82.9 ranked 13th among 115 eligible EDGE rushers, and his 52 pressures were the 24th most among his colleagues.
The 33-year-old silenced the critics in his first year in Seattle. He proved that the three-year, $42 million contract was well worth every penny, turning back the clock after playing just four games last season.
In 16 appearances, Lawrence logged 53 tackles (24 solo), 20 QB hits, 11 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, defended three passes, recovered three fumbles for a gain of 58 yards, and led the league with two fumbles recovered for a touchdown.
He didn't make much of an impact in both games with the Niners, logging just seven tackles and two QB hits. That being said, he will be crucial to put pressure on Brock Purdy and make sure the Seahawks dominate in the trenches as they did in their last meeting.
The NFL season is a long grind full of ebbs and flows, and sometimes, erring on the side of caution is the right move. The Seahawks hope to play in two more games after Saturday, and they know they will need their veteran headhunter to be healthy and ready to roll.