The Seahawks will likely be missing two of their top defensive players when the host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, as defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core) and safety Quandre Diggs (ankle) are both listed as doubtful.
There's good news on Friday's injury report as well, however. Linebacker Bobby Wagner, who came out of last week's game with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, wasn't even listed on the final injury report, indicating he's ready to play. Also expected back Sunday is defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who missed Seattle's last two games with a neck injury.
Clowney has been dealing with a core injury since Seattle's Week 10 win over the 49ers, an injury that caused him to miss one game. Clowney also missed last week's game due to illness, but while he is over that now, his injury kept him from practicing this week, leading the doubtful designation.
"We've got to see if he can elevate that here in the next couple days," he said. "It surprised us, we didn't get much out of him practice wise. He just couldn't go yet."
Asked if there had been a setback with the injury, Carroll said no, but added, "Over time it's just been a problem. He just can't quite get going yet during the week. We're looking to give him days off to see if the rest will help him game day."
If Clowney can't play, the hope is that Ansah can help make of up for that absence in the pass rush. A free-agent addition this offseason, Ansah, got off to a slow start, in part due to the shoulder surgery he had last season, but he had been coming on strong in recent games prior to this neck injury.
"Zig had his best week throughout the whole season," Carroll said. "This was the best week that he put together. He's been working out hard. He's the heaviest and strongest he's been since he's been with us. Everything looks really positive. I'm really fired up for him to have a chance to get back in there and do some good stuff."
On Diggs, who left last week's game with a high-ankle sprain, Carroll said, "We have him doubtful and we have not been able to get him on the field at all. It's looking like it's going to be hard for him to make it."
In addition to Wagner and Ansah, the Seahawks should also get back tight end Luke Willson, who has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury.
"Luke is ready to go," Carroll said.
Two more defensive starters are dealing with hamstring injuries that kept them out last week, and Carroll said that both Shaquill Griffin and Mychal Kendricks, who are listed as questionable, will be game-day decisions. Kendricks was limited in practice Friday, while Griffin worked out earlier in the day, but did not practice.
"Mychal worked today, Shaq worked out in the morning and did his stuff," Carroll said. "We'll have to take that stuff all the way up to game time and see what happens."
Here are the full injury reports for both teams:
Seattle Seahawks
Doubtful
S Quandre Diggs (ankle, did not participate in practice)
DE Jadeveon Clowney (core, did not participate in practice)
Questionable
CB Shaquill Griffin (hamstring, did not participate in practice)
LB Mychal Kendricks (hamstring, limited participation in practice)
T Duane Brown (biceps/knee, did not participate in practice)
Arizona Cardinals
Questionable
OL Justin Pugh (back, limited participation in practice)
DL Caraun Reid (knee, full participation in practice)
WR Christian Kirk (ankle, limited participation in practice)
