A hamstring injury suffered in last Sunday’s thriller will keep Earl Thomas out for week nine, as he joins Luke Joeckel as the only players declared out for the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas’s status was cloudy throughout the week, as it first looked like he would miss a week or two, then be a game-time decision, only to be declared out on Friday afternoon.

Holding Thomas out for Sunday is sensible for a number of reasons. The Seahawks have a quick turnaround following the home game against Washington, flying to Arizona to play the Cardinals just four days later on Thursday Night Football. By keeping him out this week, and possibly next, Seattle could give Thomas until Nov. 20 to get back to 100-percent, before they play the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins throws just 8.4-percent of his passes beyond 20 yards, the fourth-lowest mark in the league, making Thomas’s absence (potentially) not as impactful as it was last season.

Seattle Seahawks

Out

FS Earl Thomas (Hamstring)

G Luke Joeckel (Knee)

Doubtful

N/A

Questionable

SS Kam Chancellor (Ankle)

LB Bobby Wagner (Hamstring)

CB Jeremy Lane (Thigh)

WR Tanner McEvoy (Hamstring)

DT Sheldon Richardson (Oblique)

RB C.J. Prosise (Ankle)

Washington

Out

G Shawn Lauvao (Stinger)

DT Matt Ioannidis (Hand)

TE Jordan Reed (Hamstring)
TE Niles Paul (Concussion)

Doubtful

T Ty Nsekhe (Core muscle)

T Trent Williams (Knee)

C Spencer Long (Knee)

Questionable

S Montae Nicholson (Shoulders)

LB Martrell Spaight (Shoulder)
RB Rob Kelley (Ankle)

CB Bashaud Breeland (Knee/Groin)

WR Jamison Crowder (Hamstring)
G Brandon Scherff (Knee)

The absence of Thomas means that Bradley McDougald will start his first game at free safety for the Seahawks, while Ethan Pocic will start again at left guard in Joeckel’s place. Of the six questionable players for Seattle, only Jeremy Lane and C.J. Prosise look like a possibility to miss Sunday’s game. Meanwhile, Washington is likely to be missing four of their five starting lineman, with just right tackle Morgan Moses healthy — although he too was injured last week, playing on two sprained ankles.