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The Seattle Seahawks have played the last two games against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens without the services of two of their starting five offensive linemen, Duane Brown and D.J. Fluker. In their place the last two games the Hawks have had George Fant and Jamarco Jones, so what will the line look like with the reeling Atlanta Falcons and their 1-6 record in store for Week 8?
According to head coach Pete Carroll, Fluker should play, but exactly how much remains to be seen, while Brown appears less likely to be on the field.
Pete Carroll still says “wait and see” with Duane Brown. No timetable for return. DJ Fluker should be back next week. He could have played but Pete says it was better to hold him out Sunday.
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) October 21, 2019
However, just because Fluker is set to return doesn’t mean that the team is automatically going to hand him his starting role back. He’s set to return and compete with second year Jamarco Jones for playing time at right guard.
Duane Brown will try and practice Wednesday, but Pete won’t know for sure until then. Obviously Duane wants to be back. DJ Fluker will be back this week to “compete” for playing time this week, Pete says. So the battle for RG is on.
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) October 21, 2019
Based on that, Fluker, who was considered by many to be the emotional leader of the offensive line in 2018 is set to have to earn his job back following a hamstring injury that led him to miss the last two games and the majority of a third. Fluker is known for being emotional and speaking his mind, and he took to Twitter to share his thoughts on having to compete for his job.
Better put some respect on my name!!! You ain’t seen my best yet period I’ll bet on myself all day. DONT EVER COUNT ME OUT. THINK ITS A GAME!! TRY ME
— DJ Fluker TheWarrior (@DJTheWarrior76) October 22, 2019
It seems as though Fluker is happy to put everyone on notice that he’s ready to come in and not just take his job back, but to take it back in a manner that leaves no question about whose job it is going forward. Obviously, he’ll need to show what he can do on the field and in practice in order to get his job back, but based on this, it appears there’s been a fire lit under him and he’s going to come in ready to seize his starting role.
It will certainly be a situation worth monitoring this week, as Seahawks get set to travel to Atlanta for another early game against a team that’s already in fire sale mode.