After only their second loss at home in three seasons, the Seattle Seahawks will have to get back on track without three key players this week on the road against the St. Louis Rams.
Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Miller have officially been ruled out on this week’s injury report. Meanwhile, head coach Pete Carroll also said center Max Unger would not make it back this week either for their game against the Rams.
It’s three key pieces of Seattle’s starting lineup that won’t be available this week for Seattle’s first divisional game of the season.
“We’ll keep working those guys to see how long it’s going to take to get them there,” Carroll said. “It’s tough for those guys. They’re dying that they can’t contribute and get back out with us.”
Miller will miss his third straight game after having surgery on his ankle over the team’s bye in Week 4. He still had a walking boot on his left foot in the locker room after Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Unger will miss his second game after injuring his left foot against the Washington Redskins on Monday night two weeks ago.
Wagner suffered a turf toe injury in the second quarter against Dallas. While he returned to finish the game, Carroll said Wednesday that it “looks like it’s going to be a while for him” before Wagner is able to get back in the lineup. He will not need surgery.
Cornerback Byron Maxwell’s availability will not be known until the end of the week. He suffered a calf strain against Dallas and hasn’t been ruled out by the team. If he can’t play, cornerback Tharold Simon may get a chance to start in Maxwell’s place.
Simon practiced Wednesday for the first time since having knee surgery in Week 1 to repair a torn meniscus. He has not played in a regular season game after missing all of 2013 with toe injuries and the first six weeks of 2014 due to the meniscus injury.