The Seahawks will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at CenturyLink Field, and will do so with a different-looking interior offensive line because of injuries.
Ethan Pocic, who started the first two games of the season at left guard, is out because of an ankle injury. The good news for Seattle is that right guard D.J. Fluker is back after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury, allowing J.R. Sweezy, who filled in for Fluker in the first two games, to slide over to the left side. Less certain is the situation at center, where starter Justin Britt is listed as questionable having not practiced all week due to a shoulder injury sustained late in Monday's game at Chicago.
"We're going to go all the way up to game time with that one, see how he's doing," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He's feeling way better. He didn't get to work this week though, but he has been out there with us a long time and he knows what's going on, so he could play on Sunday in this instance."
If Britt can't go, the Seahawks have confidence in backup center Joey Hunt, who took over for Britt on Monday and was on the field for Seattle's 99-yard touchdown drive late in the game.
"Joey did really well last week when he played, and he has always done well when he's in there," Carroll said. "He's a really savvy football player, and he's strong and tough and all that. He has always answered the call when we need him, so we're fine with him. We got good work with him in the huddle, making calls and all the things that he does, and he's one of our smartest guys and has always been great at all that."
Asked about Pocic's injury—he was able to finish Monday's game despite hurting his ankle—Carroll said, "He turned his ankle in the game, just out in space. He was running in an open area and he turned his ankle, and it just flared up. I'm surprise for how it looked that it didn't respond, but he's certainty got something; we found it in the MRI and all that, so we've got to take care of him."
Carroll said it is not yet known if this injury could keep Pocic out beyond this week.
Sweezy, a right guard throughout his career, says transitioning to the left side hasn't been too problematic in practice.
"It has been fun," he said. "It was a little bit foreign the first few days, but the more I do it, the more natural it feels. I'm just excited to be out there… It's just kind of opposite, but it's all there. I know what I'm doing. It's just filling out the angles and knowing what I should do to put myself in good position."
Added Carroll, "He says it's no problem for him at all. He never balked at it for a second, he feels very comfortable doing it. He has had a lot of work there for us, not in the games but in practice. It's something we've had in mind a long time when we brought him in that he would be able to compete at that spot if Fluke held onto his spot, so it has worked out where now he gets a chance. It's a good chance for us to see these guys go together and play at the same time."
On getting Fluker back at right guard, Carroll said, "He just got right back in and took all the reps and really did a good job, he's ready to go. It's great to have him back, he's got such a great spirit and he's such a tough guy, it's really nice to have him back in the huddle."
Other than Britt, the only other players listed questionable for the Seahawks is linebacker Mychal Kendricks, though Carroll made it sound like Kendricks should be able to go, which would be good news for a defense that will again be without its usual starter at that spot, K.J. Wright.
"Mychal just came down wrong on his foot yesterday and it's just sore, so we think it's going to be OK," Carroll said. "It's not swollen or anything like that, but we just want to make sure we don't overwork him going into it."
In addition to Wright and Pocic, the Seahawks will also be without Doug Baldwin for the second straight game, but Carroll noted that the Pro-Bowl receiver is making good progress in his recovery from the MCL injury he sustained in the season-opener.
"Doug ran really well the last couple of days, he's going to take tomorrow off I believe—he's gone four straight days, so that's a really good sign and he's feeling really good about it," Carroll said. "I don't know what to tell you about projecting that, but he was weaving and running and changing direction some and all that today, so he's coming close."
In addition to Fluker and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, the Seahawks are also getting back cornerback Tre Flowers, who started the season-opener at right corner but missed last week's game with a hamstring injury.
Though not injury related, safety Earl Thomas was held out of practice Friday for what Carroll described as personal reasons. Thomas was present for Friday's practice but not participating.
Here are the full injury reports for both teams:
Seattle Seahawks
Out
WR Doug Baldwin (knee, did not participate in practice)
G Ethan Pocic (ankle, did not participate in practice)
LB K.J. Wright (knee, did not participate in practice)
Questionable
C Justin Britt (shoulder, did not participate in practice)
LB Mychal Kendricks (ankle, limited participation in practice)
Dallas Cowboys
Out
DT Maliek Collins (knee, did not participate in practice)
C Travis Frederick (illness, did not participate in practice)
Questionable
S Xavier Woods (hamstring, limited participation in practice)
LB Sean Lee (hamstring, limited participation in practice)
WR Cole Beasley (ankle, limited participation in practice)
The Seahawks and Cowboys face off on Thursday Night Football, Nov. 30, 2023. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Cowboys.
Seattle Seahawks receiver Joey Galloway (84) pulls in a 44-yard touchdown pass as Dallas Cowboys' Kevin Smith (26) defends on the play during the second quarter in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998. (AP Photo/Bill Janscha)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (8) runs for a first down against Seattle Seahawks defenders Chad Brown (94) and Michael Sinclair (70) during the third quarter in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998. The Cowboys won 30-22. (AP Photo/L M Otero)
Seattle Seahawks' Darrell Jackson (82) grabs a long fourth-quarter pass as Dallas Cowboys' Darren Woodson defends, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, in Seattle. The Seahawks scored on the next play and won, 29-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (22) goes down after crashing through the Seattle Seahawks line for an 11-yard run during the fourth quarter. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, in Irving, Texas. In the background is Seahawks corner back Ken Lucas (21). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Seattle Seahawks' Rashad Moore (95) tries to knock down a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde in the second quarter Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, in Seattle. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson (82) eludes a tackle from Dallas Cowboys strong safety Lynn Scott and runs for a 35-yard pass reception that set up a two-yard touchdown reception by Jackson on the next play in the first quarter Monday, Dec. 6, 2004, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Ryan Hannam (83) comes up with the ball after catching a 1-yard touchdown pass to tie the score in the fourth quarter as Dallas Cowboys' Scott Shanle lays on the ground during the fourth quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005. The Seahawks won 13-10 with a field goal in the last seconds of the game. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) scrambles away from Dallas Cowboys' Jason Hatcher in the second quarter in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo, right, botches the hold on a 19-yard field goal-attempt by Martin Gramatica as the Seattle Seahawks defend with 1:19 left in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. Romo was forced to grab the ball and run, but was stopped at the 2. The Seahawks won, 21-20. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rolls over after fumbling on a hit by Seattle Seahawks' Ken Hamlin, right, with Grant Wistrom (98) picking up the ball behind during a botched field goal-attempt with 1:19 left in the game in an NFC wild-card playoff football in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. The Seahawks went on to win, 21-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Ken Hamlin celebrates after a botched Dallas Cowboys field goal-attempt by the Cowboys with 1:19 left in the game in an NFC wild card playoff football in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. Behind is kicker Martin Gramatica (7). (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux celebrates after stopping Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo following a botched field goal attempt late in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. Babineaux has earned his teammates' nickname "Big Play Babs after a last-second play against Dallas last season, then the tackle of Romo that saved the Seahawks season. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo scrambles away from the Seattle Seahawks defense during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Seattle Seahawks safety Deon Grant (24) makes a tackle on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton (84) following Crayton's reception in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch jumps over Dallas Cowboys' Gerald Sensabaugh as the Cowboys' Alan Ball moves in for the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
Seattle Seahawks players break up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys' Miles Austin, center, in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs for a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jeff Heath goes down after missing the tackle in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks Doug Baldwin, right, blocks a punt by Dallas Cowboys punter Chris Jones that was run in for a touchdown by Seahawks' Mike Morgan in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) finds running room as Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy (76) gives chase during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) gains yardage after a pass as Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Carr (39) gives chase in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) catches a touchdown pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie (33) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, file photo, Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson rushes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. Carson rushed for 102 yards in the game. In consecutive weeks, the Seahawks produced 100-yard rushers. The novelty was it being two different backs, neither of which was rookie first-round pick Rashaad Penny. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Seattle's Jacob Martin brings down Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
Captains for both teams meet at midfield for the opening coin toss.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin manages to keep both feet inbounds on this 22-yard reception in the third quarter to keep a drive alive.
Seattle special teams captain Neiko Thorpe keeps the ball from entering the end zone on a Michael Dickson punt and the Cowboys took over at the two-yard line.
Seattle's Mike Davis spikes the ball after scoring on a successful two-point conversion.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field at CenturyLink Field following an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf atoned for an earlier fumble with this 29-yard touchdown reception from Russell Wilson.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett breaks for more yardage after a second quarter catch.
Seahawks safety Ryan Neal, called up from the practice squad on Saturday, intercepts a pass in the end zone to seal Seattle's 38-31 win over the Cowboys.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin flies through the air after an interception in the second quarter.
Seattle's Benson Mayowa recovered a Dak Prescott fumble and returned it to the Dallas five-yard line at the beginning of the second half.
Seahawks Jamal Adams and Jordyn Brooks hit Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just as he releases the ball on a pass in the first quarter.
Seahawks receiver Penny Hart catches a 35-yard touchdown pass from Drew Lock in the first quarter.
Seahawks defender Myles Adams hits Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush as he releases the ball resulting in a QB hurry and incomplete pass.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock looks to the end zone.
After the game, Seahawks star receiver DK Metcalf and Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons exchanged jerseys.
