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Injury report, Week 2: At Chicago

Even without Wagner, can defense really be any worse?

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Logo -- At ChicagoThe Seahawks are about to play their first game without Bobby Wagner or K.J. Wright since 2011, but — other than Wagner — what are the Seahawks really going to miss Monday in Chicago that they weren’t already missing?

In their 27-24 loss in Denver, they were without Wright (knee) and deactivated Nazair Jones and Poona Ford — and the Broncos rolled up 470 yards. That was with Wagner, Tre Flowers, Delano Hill and Tom Johnson on the field.

How much worse can it be without them?

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The roster, Week 2: At Chicago

No risk: Kendricks might be here for only a week

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Logo -- At ChicagoThe Seahawks have some temporary (we hope) problems at linebacker, and they came up with a controversial solution when they reportedly added Mychal Kendricks, who faces up to three years in prison when he is sentenced in January for insider trading.

Assuming his only fault is that he cheated to gain some extra investment cash, Kendricks is not any kind of risk for the Hawks — and there’s no reason to dislike the move. He committed a victim-less crime and will pay his penance after his Jan. 24 sentencing.

Most fans seem to agree with us, not overly concerned about his financial crime — knowing he did not hurt anyone and will pay for his investment shenanigans later. But some wonder whether the NFL might suspend him, making this signing moot.

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State of the team, Week 2: At Chicago

Off to bad start, defense will get much better

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Logo -- At ChicagoPete Carroll’s defense is sitting in a very unfamiliar place after one game, ranked 28th overall and 29th against the pass. So, how worried should we be?

In the short term (this month), maybe a little. In the long term, not very.

There were a lot of variables at play in Denver that surely won’t be such big issues a month from now. The heat and altitude were factors; the Hawks were playing with five new starters, including two rookies; Earl Thomas had just returned; and K.J. Wright was not playing.

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Week 1: At Denver, X's & O's

It starts on first downs

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Logo -- At DenverWith a defense in training, the Seahawks absolutely need Russell Wilson to play his best this season. And it starts on first downs.

That’s what made it so disappointing when Seattle came up short in the opener in Denver — Wilson holding the ball too long and taking unnecessary sacks and Brian Schottenheimer doing very little to help him as the Hawks basically ran their old playbook.

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Week 1: At Denver

Wilson was biggest letdown in opener

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Logo -- At DenverIn a lot of ways, the Seahawks’ opener was everything we thought it would be: on-the-job training for young defenders, a de facto preseason game for Earl Thomas, a stress test for the offensive line, a big game for Michael Dickson — and a close loss.

Among all of the negatives in the 27-24 loss in Denver — 329 yards and three TDs by Case Keenum, Shaquem Griffin and Tre Flowers over their heads in their NFL debuts, Von Miller tallying three sacks and two forced fumbles — the biggest was the disappointing play of Russell Wilson in a scheme that looked like it had not changed a bit.

Wilson, now in his seventh season, looked like a rookie throughout much of this game as he dropped to 1-4 in road season openers. He knew he was going against the NFL’s top pass rusher in Miller, and yet he continually held the ball for too long. He said he was responsible for three of Denver’s six sacks, but it was more than three — and he caused his offense trouble in other ways.

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NFL draft, Trades, Week 1: At Denver

Can Schneider, Dickson get last laugh in Denver?

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Logo -- At DenverIn Denver, John Schneider will be looking for a fun little trifecta, maybe even a superfecta.

He already won the 2016 draft-day trade with the Broncos, who dumped Paxton Lynch after just two years, and now he will watch for his team to win this game and for his punter to get the last laugh.

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Week 1: At Denver, X's & O's

Is Carroll’s project ready if needed?

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Seahawks bandagesWith Dontae Johnson now questionable or worse with a hip injury, it looks very possible that the Seahawks will end up starting two rookies in Denver — Tre Flowers joining Shaquem Griffin.

Flowers, a 6-3, fifth-round pick who converted from safety to corner for Seattle, played a ton in the preseason as he learned Pete Carroll’s very specific technique (kick-step, etc.). And he got a lot of up-close tutoring from the coach himself.

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Contracts, Trades

Thomas begrudgingly returns; expect him to play his quiet best

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Earl Thomas and Pete Carroll (The Seattle Times via Twitter)Earl Thomas’ message has been sent and he is begrudgingly coming back for his final year in Seattle — unless a trade comes together at some point. And you can expect him to quietly play lights out.

The Seahawks reportedly rebuffed a second-round offer from Dallas this week, holding firm on better compensation for the five-time All-Pro. And that left Thomas with the choice of continuing to hold out — and lose money — or report and play for a new contract elsewhere.

He announced his return Wednesday on Instagram: “I worked my whole life for this. I’ve never let (my) teammates, city or fans down as long as I’ve lived and don’t plan on starting this weekend. With that being said, the disrespect has been well noted and will not be forgotten. Father Time may have an undefeated record, but best believe I plan on taking him into triple overtime when it comes to my career.”

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