Ryan Neal, Josh Jones Active as Seahawks Square Off With Rams in Week 13

As expected, Johnathan Abram won't make his Seattle Seahawks debut after being claimed off waivers from the Green Bay Packers earlier in the week, while most of the team's inactives list consists of healthy scratches.
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Back in action after exiting last Sunday's overtime loss to the Raiders, the Seahawks will have starting strong safety Ryan Neal in uniform against the Rams on Sunday.

Neal, who left in overtime with a bruised elbow, returned to practice as a full participant on Thursday with a wrap over the injury. On Friday, coach Pete Carroll told reporters he got through the final two practices of the week without any issues, a strong indicator he would be ready to play in Los Angeles.

Along with Neal being active, reserve safety Josh Jones will also suit up despite missing two practices this week due to a flu-like illness that has permeated throughout the locker room at the VMAC. On Thursday, he was one of 11 players sent home who did not practice, but he will be available to play as a third safety in dime packages as well as on special teams on Sunday.

As expected based on comments made by Carroll on Friday, newly-acquired safety Johnathan Abram will be held out as a healthy scratch. With Neal and Jones both suiting up and undrafted rookie Joey Blount and Teez Tabor available as backups, Seattle didn't have to force the issue playing him before he was ready after only arriving a few short days ago.

Downgraded to out on Saturday, running back Travis Homer won't play against the Rams due to a knee injury and Tony Jones Jr. will take his spot as the third back behind Ken Walker III and DeeJay Dallas. The rest of Seattle's inactives - receiver Penny Hart, tackle Jake Curhan, defensive end L.J. Collier, defensive tackle Myles Adams, and cornerback Artie Burns - all will be sidelined as healthy scratches after not being listed on the final injury report.

On the opposite sideline, the Rams will be missing a great deal of star power on both sides of the football on Sunday. After already ruling out defensive tackle Aaron Donald and linebacker Terrell Lewis with ankle and back injuries respectively, cornerback Troy Hill also won't play due to a groin injury despite being listed as questionable on Friday. Quarterback Matthew Stafford also wound up on injured reserve and John Wolford will replace him under center with Bryce Perkins serving as backup. 

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Corbin K. Smith
CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.