RENTON -- Exactly who will play at left tackle for the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers is still unclear.
Both Duane Brown and George Fant are listed as questionable to play against the Packers this weekend. Brown is just under three weeks removed from surgery on his right knee. Fant injured his groin in last weekend's win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brown and Fant were both listed as limited in practice on Friday. It's the first time Brown has been able to take part in any practice since his surgery.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll called Brown and Fant both game day decisions. Carroll was rather mum regarding the status of his players this week with very little insight into their availability beyond their stated status on the injury report.
Additionally, left guard Mike Iupati is doubtful to play due to a stinger that required a second opinion this week. With Iupati likely out, Seattle will need Jamarco Jones to play at guard.
So if Brown and Fant can't go either, who plays left tackle in the biggest game of the year for the Seahawks?
Chad Wheeler.
Wheeler was promoted from the practice squad this week as the replacement for Mychal Kendricks on the active roster. Kendricks was placed on injured reserve after tearing the ACL in his knee in the regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers. Wheeler has appeared in 27 career games with 19 starts for the New York Giants from 2017-18 after being an undrafted free agent signing out of USC. While Wheeler has made most of his starts at right tackle, Carroll said that Wheeler has primarily been at left tackle since joining their practice squad earlier this year.
"He's played for Mike (Solari) and Mike knows him really well, he's real confident that if we need him he'll be able to jump up," Carroll said.
"He's a good, smart football player. He's been in the system. He knows what we're asking of him. He's been really solid throughout. The main thing is just ask him to do what he's capable of and not overreach."
With Brown and Fant each able to take part in some aspect of practice on Friday, it would seem reasonable to think at least one, if not both, will be active for the game on Sunday. With no guarantee of another game to come it will likely be an all-hands-on-deck approach. The only exception would be if the player is just not physically capable of playing safely and at-risk for a much greater injury.
Defensive ends Ziggy Ansah and Quinton Jefferson are both questionable to play as well. Ansah is dealing with a stinger sustained against the Eagles on Sunday while Jefferson is dealing with an ankle issue.
Ansah was limited on Wednesday and then unable to practice the rest of the week. Jefferson didn't practice on Wednesday before being limited the last two days.
Carroll wasn't asked specifically about Ansah but said that Jefferson appears to be on-track to play.
"It looks like he's going," Carroll said. "We're resting him to make sure he's ready. He'll be working out on game day."
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is going to play again this week despite his core muscle injury. Carroll said it was a good week for Clowney as he was able to practice throughout the week.
"He did (have a good week)," Carroll said. "As the week progressed, he felt much better than he did last week. So he's in good shape and ready to go. We're excited about that. Really certain about his return so he's in good shape to go."
Wide receivers Jaron Brown and Malik Turner are both back for this week as well. Brown had missed the last game due to a personal matter and knee injury. Turner had been out the last two weeks with a concussion.
"He did (have a good week)," Carroll said. "As the week progressed, he felt much better than he did last week. So he's in good shape and ready to go. We're excited about that. Really certain about his return so he's in good shape to go."
Safety Marquise Blair is the last player listed as questionable after tweaking an ankle in practice on Thursday. However, he told Carroll he believes he'll be able to play.
"He turned his ankle in a drill yesterday. It's a slight ankle sprain that we've just got to wait and see how it recovers. A little bit of swelling and all that. He's very optimistic about going," Carroll said.
Injury Report:
Photo Credit: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 05: Quarterback Josh McCown #18 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs for a first down over Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)