Just a quick update to get things rolling today - the Seahawks' injury situation is something to keep an eye on this week after Monday's win over the Rams. In Wednesday's practice, four players sat out, including Robert Gallery with a hip injury, David Hawthorne with a knee issue, Raheem Brock with a calf, and Doug Baldwin with a bum ankle. It's unclear how severe any of these guys' injuries are, though the Hawks did practice without pads for an hour and a half so it makes sense that anyone that was hurting would just take the day off.
The good news though is that Tarvaris Jackson, Leroy Hill, Kennard Cox, and Jarriel King all practiced in full. Cox was missed last game on special teams and though some people noticed King go gimpy near the end of Monday's game, apparently it's nothing serious.
As for the Bears, RB Matt Forte did sit out practice but from what I understand, hasn't yet been ruled out for this Sunday's game. It seems like a long-shot he'll play.
In other news, in case you missed it, DB Ron Parker has been placed on the Injured Reserve, the 14th such Seahawk, and WR Ricardo Lockette has been called up. Lockette will still be behind Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Mike Williams, Ben Obomanu, and Deon Butler so he'll have to fight for some playing time.
Per Eric Williams of the TNT:
The 25-year-old has made several impressive catches in practice the past, few weeks.
"The Rocket is coming up, and we're happy to make that move for him," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said. "He's been practicing like crazy and working like he's been part of the roster."
Lockette said that he's greatly improved since arriving at the VMAC as a green rookie in July. "I would say I'm a totally different athlete," Lockette said. "Coming in from a small school to being on the practice squad, I learned a lot from the players around me like Sid (Sidney Rice (Rice) and Obo (Ben Obomanu). I just kind of sat in their shadows and learned everything possible."
Also, taking his place on the practice squad is CB Coye Francies. Per EW again,
"The San Jose State product was a sixth round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2009. He played in six games for the Browns that year, but was cut by Cleveland during training camp in 2010. Francies was picked up by Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL in 2010, and later rejoined Cleveland's practice squad in December and later added to the active roster for two games.
Francies was cut by the Browns during training camp in September. At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Francies fits the profile as a bigger corner that can play press coverage."
For more on Francies, check out his scouting report on CBSSports.com.
Finally, Bears' WR Sam Hurd was arrested today on federal drug charges. According to Doug Farrar's piece on it over at Shutdown Corner,
Hurd met with an undercover Homeland Security agent on Wednesday and attempted to set up a system by which he would purchase 5-10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week to distribute in Chicago. Here's the real kicker - according to the complaint, Hurd said that he was already distributing four kilos of cocaine per week in the greater Chicago area with a co-conspirator, but that this amount wasn't enough.
Adding,
...Hurd then asked the agent if Mexican cellular phones could be provided for future deals, as Hurd believed that "law enforcement did not have the capacity of 'listening to' Mexican telephones.
Hurd has 8 receptions on the year for 109 yards and no TDs. At worst, it looks like it will be a distraction for Bears players this week.
Anyway, that's some of the scuttlebutt for today...