Seattle’s Lockett back catching passes, could play vs. Jets | Football

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Tyler Lockett was back catching passes and participating in the Seattle Seahawks’ walk-on Wednesday, barely a week after surgery to stabilize a broken bone in his left hand.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Lockett was able to participate without significant discomfort, and both the player and the coach are working under the impression that Lockett will be able to play this week against the New York Jets.

“If you were watching the walk, you wouldn’t know anything was going on,” Carroll said. “He just went through and did everything in stride. We’ll be careful with it in practice and make sure we find out what its limits are. But he looked great throwing and catching and all that stuff.”

Lockett’s return would be a huge boost for Seattle facing a must-win game for their dwindling playoff hopes. The Seahawks’ best bet to find their way into the postseason is to win their last two games and lose to Washington in one of the last two weeks.

Lockett’s return would also help an offense that struggled in the first half last week against Kansas City without him on the field and will be without tight end Will Dissly for the remainder of the season.

“It’s always valuable to have Tyler there. But you can always fight through adversity, and last week it was a disadvantage that we had to fight through,” Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf said. “Even though in the first half we got down on the offensive end, it was good saw us come out in the second half swinging and able to run the ball.”

Lockett injured his left hand late in Seattle’s loss to San Francisco on Dec. 15. He underwent surgery on December 19 and missed just the second game of his career with the injury. Lockett is second on the team in receptions with 78 and leads the team with eight touchdown catches.

“This is an incredible story and he’s writing it now for us,” Carroll said. “He doesn’t even flinch.”

Dissly suffered what was initially called a knee contusion in the loss to the Chiefs, but it turned out to be more significant. Carroll called it an “unusual injury that we haven’t seen before,” on top of Dissly’s fibula and where it connects to the knee.

That was the extent of the specs Carroll had. For now, Dissly won’t need surgery, but it remains an option in the future.

“It’s serious enough that it’s going to be a little bit,” Carroll said.

This is likely the third time Dissly has had an injury-shortened season. He played just four games in his rookie season in 2018 and six in 2019 due to knee and Achilles injuries, but played in 31 of 33 games in 2020-21 and has started every game this season.

Seattle brought back a familiar face in signing Jacob Hollister to the practice squad and also has Tyler Mabry on the practice squad as an option as a third tight end for the past two weeks. Seattle has used three tight end groups extensively this season.

Carroll also said that running backs Kenneth Walker III (ankle), DeeJay Dallas (ankle), right tackle Abraham Lucas (knee) and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (wrist) should all be in line for played against the Jets. Seattle also expects Al Woods (Achilles) to return after missing the last two games.

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