Pocic sat out practice all week with an ankle injury and will likely be replaced by J.R. Sweezy at left guard.
The Seahawks will be without three starters for Sunday’s home opener against Dallas — linebacker K.J. Wright (knee), receiver Doug Baldwin (knee) and left guard Ethan Pocic (ankle). All three were officially ruled out by the Seahawks on Friday.
Two other players were listed as questionable, meaning officially a 50-50 chance of playing — center Justin Britt (shoulder) and linebacker Mychal Kendricks (ankle).
Coach Pete Carroll indicated after practice Friday that Kendricks is likely to play while saying Britt would be a game-time decision.
Everyone else on the 53-man roster was listed as good to go, which means Bobby Wagner will return to start at middle linebacker and D.J. Fluker will make his first start at right guard.
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And with Pocic out, Carroll said J.R. Sweezy — who started the first two games at right guard in place of Fluker — will start at left guard. Pocic played every snap Monday night against the Bears but turned his ankle during the game and Carroll said an MRI this week showed there is some damage. Carroll said he couldn’t say how long Pocic might be out.
“He turned his ankle in the game, just out in space he was running, open area just running, turned his ankle and it just flared up,” Carroll said. “Surprised for how it looked that it didn’t respond but he’s certainly got something we found in the MRI and all that so we’ve got to take care of him.”
Sweezy practiced all week at left guard, Carroll said, adding that the game marks a good opportunity for Seattle to see how the line looks with Fluker and Sweezy each playing guard. “It’s a good chance for us to see those guys play together,” Carroll said.
If Britt can’t play — he has not practiced all week after suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter against the Bears — then Joey Hunt will get the start at center. Carroll said Britt is feeling better and noted that “in this instance” Britt could start Sunday after not practicing all week due to his knowledge of the team’s offense.
Britt has missed only one regular-season game since joining the Seahawks in 2014, sitting out in 2016 at Tampa Bay. That was Britt’s first year as the team’s starting center and Hunt filled in for him in what was a 14-5 Tampa Bay win.
That is the only start of Hunt’s career. Hunt filled in for Britt during the final series at Chicago and played every snap of a 99-yard scoring drive that cut the lead to 24-17.
“Joey did really well last week when he played and he’s always done well when he’s been in there,” Carroll said. “He’s a rally savvy football player, strong and tough and all that. He’s always answered the call when we needed him so we are fine with him and we got good work with him in the huddle and making calls and all the things that he does. He’s one of our smartest guys.”
Carroll said Wright is “going slow” in his return from arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss his third straight game. If Kendricks is healthy he is expected to get the start, though Austin Calitro could also play there.
Carroll said Kendricks just came down on his foot wrong in practice but that “we think he’s going to be OK … just want to make sure we don’t overwork him going into it.” Kendricks is facing a possible suspension for an insider-trading charge but the Seahawks received assurance from the NFL this week that he can play Sunday against Dallas.
Calitro started at MLB on Monday night against the Bears with Wagner out with a groin injury but he also played WLB in the opener at Denver and would be the backup to Kendricks.
Quarterback Russell Wilson showed up on the injury report Wednesday with a hamstring issue suffered in the final minutes Monday. But he has been a full participant in practice all week and was not listed on the final injury report.
“He’s fine,’’ Carroll said. “He’s been through a lot of stuff and he knows what he’s doing. He made it through. He doesn’t feel like it bothers him at all now.’’
Carroll also confirmed that Tre Flowers will start again at right cornerback after missing last week’s game when Akeem King instead got the start.
Carroll also said Baldwin ran the last four days and is progressing but said he couldn’t say when he might return. Sunday will mark the second game Baldwin will miss after having played in 89 straight games.
The Cowboys declared two players out — center Travis Frederick, who has not played this season after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who suffered a knee injury Sunday against the Giants.
Joe Looney has been playing in place of Frederick, who has made the Pro Bowl each of the past four seasons and had not missed a game in five seasons before his diagnosis in August.