Kenneth Walker III practices, but Seahawks hurting on D-line | Notebook

RENTON — Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III practiced on a limited basis Thursday, which appeared another step in the right direction to returning for Monday night’s showdown with the Lions in Detroit.

But six other key Seahawks did not practice, including defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II. Williams (ribs) and Murphy (hamstring) were injured in the first half of Sunday’s 24-3 win over the Dolphins at Lumen Field and did not return.

Other Seahawks who sat out Thursday were: weakside linebacker Jerome Baker (hamstring), outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (knee), outside linebacker Boye Mafe (knee) and right guard Anthony Bradford (knee).

Along with Walker, who has missed the last two games with an oblique injury, five other players were listed as limited: tight end Noah Fant (toe), left guard Laken Tomlinson (ankle), tight end Pharaoh Brown (foot), linebacker Derick Hall (hip) and nose tackle Johnathan Hankins (calf).

Coach Mike Macdonald on Wednesday deferred talking about injuries until after the team had to release a report, and he is not scheduled to talk to the media again until Saturday, when the Seahawks will have to declare game statuses for injured players.

That the Seahawks did not place Williams and Murphy on injured reserve, which would mean each having to miss four games, indicated the team does not view either injury as overly serious.

But each sitting out Thursday obviously shows they are in danger of not playing against the Lions.

Nwosu was back on the field Wednesday during early warmups, his first football activity of any kind since suffering a sprained knee in the final preseason game against Cleveland Aug. 24, and the team has been targeting the Detroit contest for his return.

A factor in the team’s decisions about players this week is that Monday starts a stretch of three games in 11 days for the Seahawks with games the following Sunday against the Giants and then the following Thursday against the 49ers, each at Lumen Field.

The Seahawks will have 10 days off between the game against San Francisco on Oct. 10 and a game at Atlanta on Oct. 20. 

Walker being back on the field again Thursday appears to be further validation of the team’s hopes that he will return against the Lions.

Walker also practiced on a limited basis last Friday, which was his first on-field work since being injured in the fourth quarter of the opening win against Denver on Sept. 8.

Following last Friday’s practice Macdonald said he was “very optimistic’’ that Walker would be ready for the Detroit game.

Injury questions for five starters or key contributors on their defensive front seven is obviously not ideal as the Seahawks prepare to face the best offense they will have seen all season in Detroit, which advanced to the NFC title game last season.  

The Lions are fourth in total offense through three weeks, gaining 399.7 yards per game, a number spread evenly between the pass (the Lions are seventh at 236.7 yards per game) and run (fourth at 163.0 per game).

Still unsettled at right guard

Bradford sitting out Thursday’s practice comes as the Seahawks continue to sort out the right-guard position.

Bradford, a fourth-round pick a year ago out of LSU, has started the first three games. But 2024 third-round pick Christian Haynes played 15 snaps against the Patriots in rotating in for one series in each half of the Seahawks’ 23-20 win over New England.

The expectation was that rotation would continue against Miami. 

Instead, Bradford played every snap with Macdonald saying later Bradford had earned that through his performance in practice the previous week.

Bradford struggled in the game, committing two more penalties — he is tied for second most in the NFL with six — and allowing two sacks.

Monday, Macdonald said the spot would remain in competition this week.

An injury to Bradford could make that a moot point. Bradford sat out one play against Denver to have his knee examined and then was listed on the injury the week of the New England game with a knee injury, though as a full participant each day. He was not on the injury report last week and it’s unclear if the knee injury he missed practice with Thursday is related to the previous injury.

Before the injury report came out, Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb held his weekly news conference and said the team hopes to soon settle on a permanent right guard.

“The sooner you can get that established, the more comfort those guys have working together and that just shores up the whole operation where guys aren’t guessing,’’ Grubb said. “So we certainly hope that we can get that hammered down here.’’

Asked about Bradford’s performance against Miami, Grubb delivered a fairly candid response.

“Anthony would probably tell you he didn’t have his best game,’’ Grubb said. “And I think he’s a young player still that hopefully is continuing to develop. And we think he has a very good skill set and there’s some other things that have got to come along in his game and we’re still trying to develop that.’’

If Bradford can’t play, Haynes would get his first start.

Asked where Haynes needs to improve, Grubb said: “Just technique and power. Just raw power at the guard position in the NFL is so critical and that’s why Anthony can withstand a lot in there with his sheer size and what he can take on in the inside. I think for Christian it’s not getting overpowered and overwhelmed.’’

Tomlinson dealing with an ankle injury could throw even more of a complication into the offensive line situation. Tomlinson’s listed backup is rookie Sataoa Laumea, a sixth-round pick out of Utah who has yet to play.

Lions to be without starting center

Detroit coach Dan Campbell told reporters Lions starting center Frank Ragnow will not play against the Seahawks because of a pectoral muscle injury suffered last Sunday against Arizona. 

Ragnow will likely be replaced by Graham Glasgow, who filled in for Ragnow when he was injured last season.

Tight end Sam LaPorta also sat out practice with an ankle injury suffered against Arizona. Campbell earlier referred to him as day to day. LaPorta has eight receptions for 94 yards this season.

Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) and tackle Dan Skipper (ribs) also sat out. Safety Brian Branch (concussion), defensive tackle Alim McNeill (shoulder), defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike (knee) and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring) were all listed as limited.