Doug Baldwin injury update: Seahawks WR returning to practice, could play vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks offense has been without star wide receiver Doug Baldwin for all but a handful of plays this regular season, but we could see #89 back on the field as early as this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed on Wednesday that Baldwin would be back in practice, two weeks removed from a partial MCL tear in Seattle’s opening day loss against the Denver Broncos.

“He’s gonna practice today,” Carroll said (via Seahawks Wire). “It’s a great step, jump for him to make. He’s in the walkthrough today, he’ll practice for the first time in a few weeks. He looks really good and light on his feet and he’s very confident that he can have a chance to play this week. So we’ll see how that goes.”

Baldwin came into the regular season banged up, having dealt with soreness in his left knee that caused him to miss all of preseason, and he even admitted he won’t be 100% throughout the year as a result. He is the most important non-Russell Wilson player on the Seahawks offense, so his returning presence is very much welcome, whether it’s this week or the following week against the Los Angeles Rams.

Without Baldwin, Tyler Lockett is the only Seahawks WR with at least 10 catches, as he has 12 on 17 targets, with 3 of those turned into touchdowns. Brandon Marshall is Seattle’s second-leading WR at 9 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, but he only has a 50% catch rate, multiple drops, and a touchdown-nullifying offensive pass interference call. Jaron Brown runs third with 6 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown on 9 targets. Neither Keenan Reynolds nor David Moore has officially been targeted, although Moore did draw defensive pass interference against the Chicago Bears, but that’s listed as “No Play.”