The Seattle Seahawks look like they are going to be without cornerback Brandon Browner against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Browner did not practice this week for the Seahawks and is listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report with a hamstring strain suffered last week in practice. Head coach Pete Carroll had been optimistic about Browner’s availability and hoped he would be able to return to practice by Thursday. When that didn’t happen, his status for the game against the 49ers came into doubt.
“He’s doubtful going into the game. We’ll see what happens on game day. We’ll take it all the way up until then - has not been able to get as much work as we’d hoped,” Carroll said.
“Just wasn’t right enough. He’s still working and running in rehab but we did not get him on the field.”
Browner has missed the last five regular season games for Seattle. A four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy sidelined him for the final four games of last season. The hamstring strain forced him to miss the season opener against the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks are 5-0 in the games Browner has missed, including a 42-13 win over the 49ers last December in Seattle.
Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell would fill-in if Browner is unable to play.
On the positive side for Seattle, defensive end Cliff Avril is expected to make his season debut for the team on Sunday. Avril has been sidelined for the majority of the preseason with a hamstring strain of his own. He did not play in any of the team’s four preseason games. He briefly returned to practice ago before aggravating the injury and was forced to miss more time.
Carroll didn’t go as far as saying Avril will start for Seattle, but he is expected to play and is listed as probable on the injury report.
“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time - since prior to camp - so I definitely feel great,” Avril said.
In addition, defensive tackle Jordan Hill is out with a biceps strain and backup strong safety Jeron Johnson is expected to miss the game with a hamstring strain. Carroll wouldn’t rule out defensive end Chris Clemons from being able to play after practicing this week for the first time since an ACL tear in January. He’s listed as questionable for Seattle.