Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon Inactive vs. Titans on Christmas Eve

Not quite ready to return to action, the Seattle Seahawks will have to go for a second straight win without the services of Devon Witherspoon, who joins Jamal Adams as a high-profile secondary player sidelined against the Tennessee Titans.
In this story:

After not practicing this week, the Seattle Seahawks will be without rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon for a second straight game against the Tennessee Titans on Christmas Eve.

Dealing with a hip pointer suffered in a Week 14 loss to the 49ers, Witherspoon has not practiced for the past two weeks and received a questionable designation on Friday's final injury report. While coach Pete Carroll indicated he had tried to do a little bit of work during walkthroughs, he clearly isn't quite ready to return to play and the Seahawks will give him another week to get healthy for the final stretch run.

“He couldn’t do much today. Not yet," Carroll said of Witherspoon on Friday. "He tried to do some walkthrough stuff, he’s done some of that, but we’re going to have to wait and see.”

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) celebrates after the defense made a play against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Lumen Field.
Devon Witherspoon and Jamal Adams won't be in action for the Seahawks against the Titans on Christmas Eve / © Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

With Witherspoon sidelined again, veteran Artie Burns should see the majority of snaps in the slot cornerback spot for Seattle. On the outside, Tre Brown will be active despite being listed as questionable with a heel injury and will start opposite of either Riq Woolen or Mike Jackson, who started in Monday's win over Philadelphia.

Witherspoon won't be the only key member of the Seahawks secondary absent on Sunday. Safety Jamal Adams, who continues to deal with chronic knee pain resulting from a torn quad tendon suffered last season, didn't travel with the team and will be inactive for a second straight week. After flying to Nashville on Saturday following the birth of his son, Julian Love will replace him again in the starting lineup.

Providing extra insurance at both cornerback and safety as well as special teams help, Seattle promoted Kelvin Joseph and Ty Okada from the practice squad on Saturday for reinforcements.

As for the rest of Seattle's inactives, veteran edge rusher Frank Clark missed the last two practices of the week with an illness and won't be available, while receiver Dee Eskridge will miss his fourth straight game due to a rib injury. Rookie tackles Raiqwon O'Neal and McClendon Curtis as well as veteran defensive tackle Myles Adams will be held out as healthy scratches.

Seahawks Rule Out Jamal Adams, Frank Clark For Week 16 Tilt at Titans


Published
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.