Jordan Simmons will start at left guard in place of Mike Iupati on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams as Iupati was declared inactive for the game due to a stinger.
Iupati and Simmons have rotated at the position throughout the season and Simmons has started four games for the team already this year.
The Seahawks should also be with a backup at right tackle as Cedric Ogbuehi is expected to start against the Rams. Starting tackle Brandon Shell is active but is set to serve in a backup role due to a high-ankle sprain. The Seahawks have employed a similar strategy before with Joey Hunt starting at center in place of a banged up Justin Britt, who remained active as an emergency backup just in case.
Defensive tackle Damon Harrison is inactive for Seattle after Bryan Mone was activated from the injured reserve list on Saturday. Harrison has reportedly asked for his release following the decision to sit him for the game against the Rams. Harrison confirmed the decision himself via his Twitter account.
Harrison's choice is a curious one. He's only played one playoff game in his entire career in previous stops with the New York Giants, New York Jets and Detroit Lions. The Seahawks will play in one two weeks from now as either the NFC West champion or as a wild card entrant. They are one injury away from needing Harrison to be more involved again inside and he isn't apparently willing to wait for that chance. A game against the run-heavy San Francisco 49ers next week would seem to be another obvious place for Harrison to be active and involved in the game plan. Will he revisit that stance if Mone, Jarran Reed or Poona Ford get hurt during Sunday's game and that role presents itself again?
Strange.
Harrison said there's no hard feelings for Seattle and he is rooting for them. He just wants to play and is seeking that chance elsewhere.
Mone is active after missing the last six games with a high-ankle sprain.
Running back DeeJay Dallas (high-ankle sprain) and safety Damarious Randall (foot) are also inactive due to injuries. Defensive end Jonathan Bullard and tight end Colby Parkinson are healthy scratches.
In addition to Mone, tight end Greg Olsen is back in the lineup this week after being activated from injured reserve on Saturday. He missed the previous four games due to a ruptured plantar fascia in his left foot.
For the Rams, running back Cam Akers is out due to an ankle injury sustained last week against the New York Jets. However, the rest of the roster is healthy for Sunday's game.
Running back Raymond Calais, guard Jamil Demby, wide receiver Trishton Jackson and tight end Brycen Hopkins are the remaining four inactives for Los Angeles.
Inactives:
Seattle Seahawks
RB DeeJay Dallas
S Damarious Randall
DT Damon Harrison
G Mike Iupati
TE Colby Parkinson
DE Jonathan Bullard
Los Angeles Rams
RB Cam Akers
RB Raymond Calais
G Jamil Denby
WR Trishton Jackson
TE Brycen Hopkins
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 13: Arthur Maulet #23 of the New York Jets tackles DeeJay Dallas #31 of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter in the game at Lumen Field on December 13, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)