Tuesday notebook, Week 6: what changed for Thursday night at Denver
This week’s Tuesday notebook is a short one, because the week is short: Seattle plays at Denver on Thursday, October 15, at 5:15 p.m. Pacific on Prime Video, four days after Sunday’s game. The injury reports run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday instead of Wednesday through Friday, and game statuses come Wednesday afternoon.
Where things stand
Seattle is 3-2 after a 32-29 loss to the 49ers at Lumen Field on Sunday, in which four Seattle turnovers became 21 San Francisco points. The 49ers are 5-0 and lead the NFC West by two games. The Rams are 2-3 after losing 37-34 in overtime to Buffalo on Monday night, and the Cardinals are 1-4 after a 45-21 home loss to Detroit. Denver is also 3-2, after a 23-17 win at the Chargers.
Mike Macdonald on Monday, per the club’s report: “We expect to grow in all three phases. There’s a sense of urgency to grow.” On the short week: “You’re fighting a battle on two fronts. It’s the health, body battle of trying to get your body ready to play the best you can.” Macdonald has coached four Thursday games as Seattle’s head coach and is 3-1 in them, per the club.
Injuries
Monday’s report was an estimate: neither team practiced, so each club listed what its players would have done.
- Drake Thomas (ankle) and Chazz Surratt (calf) were listed as not practicing. Thomas was hurt Sunday against the 49ers and returned to the game; Surratt has missed the last two games.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) is new to the report and was listed as limited. He finished Sunday’s game.
- Drew Lock (right forearm), the backup quarterback, is also new and limited, along with Leonard Williams (ankle), Beau Stephens (shoulder) and Zach Charbonnet (knee).
- Charbonnet is still on the physically unable to perform list. Asked whether he plays Thursday, Macdonald said Monday: “As of right now, the answer is no, subject to change. Trying not to be boxed in there, some wiggle room.” On the timing: “We have to have consensus from all parties that he’s ready to go, he’s the most confident and ready to go, that he’s had enough exposure to go play an NFL game.”
The second practice report is due Tuesday afternoon and the third, with game statuses, on Wednesday; both go on the injury report when they post.
Roster moves
- Monday: none on the club’s transactions page.
- Tuesday: Seattle activated receiver Irv Charles from injured reserve, clearing him to make his Seahawks debut Thursday, and released running back Velus Jones Jr. to make room. Charles, acquired from the Jets in an offseason trade, is expected to play a big role on special teams, per the club. Jones, a vested veteran, was signed back to the practice squad the same day, per the club’s transactions log. Saturday’s moves: Trevon Diggs signed from the practice squad, Julian Neal to injured reserve.
The roster was checked against the team’s official page on Tuesday morning. After Tuesday’s moves it stands at 53 active, 7 on injured reserve, 1 on the physically unable to perform list, 16 on the practice squad, 1 on practice squad injured reserve and 1 on the commissioner exempt list. Safety AJ Finley, back on the practice squad since October 7, is now listed there.
The line
As of Tuesday morning, October 13, DraftKings has Seattle by 2.5, with a total of 40.5 and a moneyline of Seattle -148, Denver +124 (checked at 6:38 a.m. Pacific through ESPN). The VegasInsider consensus at the same time was the same, with the books split between 2.5 and 3. On Monday morning it was Seattle -3, 41.5 and -155, so the spread is back to where it opened in May, and the total is three points under its opening 43.5. ESPN’s matchup predictor, a model and not a line, gives Seattle 52.8 percent. Through five games Seattle is 1-2-2 against the number we published each game morning and 2-3 on totals; our odds page has every game. It is here because fans ask, not as advice. Washington allows sports betting only in person at tribal casinos.
What Denver said
Sean Payton on Monday, per the Broncos’ report, after Denver’s three takeaways at the Chargers: “The punch out we get early is a huge play and the interceptions we’ve had to date. Obviously, and you guys probably have seen it, it can cure a lot of what ails you. There are a number of things right now that we have to clean up and get better, but we won the game yesterday because of it.”
That is the matchup in one paragraph. Per the Broncos’ count, Denver has seven takeaways in five games, and Seattle has nine giveaways, tied for fifth-most in the league; Seattle’s defense also has 11 takeaways, the most in the NFL.
On injuries, Denver estimated cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle), who missed Sunday’s game, and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), who left it, as not practicing. Cornerback Riley Moss (ribs), who also missed Sunday, and defensive end Sai’vion Jones (shoulder) were estimated as limited.
Macdonald on the Broncos: “They’re a tough team. They’re really talented. Defensively, they pair their personnel well with their scheme. They’re aggressive.” On Denver’s offense: “I know he just took over playcalling again, but the quarterback is playing at a very high level. He extends plays.”
Around the league
The two opponents after Denver: Kansas City, at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 25, had its bye in Week 5 and is 4-0; it hosts the Chargers on Sunday. Chicago, at Lumen Field on Monday night, November 2, lost 31-7 at Green Bay and is 3-2. Kansas City beat Denver 31-10 in Week 1.
This week
Practice reports Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, with game statuses on Wednesday. Kickoff is Thursday at 5:15 p.m. Pacific on Prime Video, 6:15 p.m. in Denver. The game guide for Seahawks at Broncos has the broadcast, the forecast, parking and the light rail, and the 49ers game guide has Sunday’s result line.