After only missing one game in his career up until this point, DK Metcalf has missed two games in a row and while he wants to be out there playing, he knows he, "Can't play and know that there's better options when I'm not 100 percent," Metcalf said. "We have great receivers, great playmakers all around the offense, so if I didn't play, I knew it was somebody else's turn to step up and make plays."
This two-game stretch while being out with an MCL injury, was, according to Metcalf, "just hard on game days, sitting back and having to watch. It was just kind of a different perspective."
Even though he wasn't able to help on the field, he was still able to be of support to his teammates by being another set of eyes and a positive voice.
"Coaching wise or just telling [Jake] Bobo, Lock [Tyler Lockett], Jax [Smith-Njigba], Cody [White], whatever I saw out there on the field and just trying to keep everybody encouraged on the sideline."
Without Metcalf in their last game, the Seahawks saw both Jaxon Smith-Njigba have a career game, and receiver, Cody White, who was called up for the matchup make the most of his opportunity.
"He makes those plays at practice all the time," Metcalf said on White's performance. "So just to see it come to life on game day, I know it was really special for him. His dad was actually in town… so his dad was able to sit there and watch his son make plays. It was just a blessing that he got that opportunity and he took full advantage of it."
Adding that for Smith-Njigba, he knew he would get an opportunity to showcase the kind of receiver he is.
"It was just a matter of time," Metcalf said. "Jaxon's a great receiver, but like I said, it was just a matter of time before he really got his opportunity to shine and I'm glad he did it in the fashion that he did."
Head coach Mike Macdonald said Metcalf would be limited in practice on Wednesday, and Metcalf beat that expectation, participating fully for the first time since his injury.
But it's still wait and see if he will be ready to go by Sunday. And if Metcalf is able to play on Sunday, he said he looks forward to getting back on the field.
"It just opens up the offense that much more," Metcalf said of when he's playing. "Whether they're having to double team, me and him (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) and Lock (Tyler Lockett) gets open or we were able to run the ball and Ken (Kenneth Walker III) gases them or Zach (Charbonnet) gases them for a long run. I think it just puts more pressure on the defense to have to cover all of our skill positions."
