The Seattle Seahawks suffered a 21-13 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night that dropped Seattle’s record to 7-7 and secured an NFC West division title for San Francisco.
And making matters much worse for the Seahawks is news that head coach Pete Carroll delivered in his postgame media session.
Seattle star wide receiver Tyler Lockett suffered a broken index finger in the loss, and his status for the remainder of the season is in doubt (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Michael Shawn-Dugar of The Athletic). Lockett could need surgery, according to Carroll.
Seahawks’ HC Pete Carroll told reporters that WR Tyler Lockett broke his index finger during Thursday's loss to the 49ers. It is uncertain whether Lockett will be able to play again this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2022
Tyler Lockett may have surgery. It’s unclear right now, pete says. But the broken finger is obviously a serious issue and could knock him out the lineup awhile, possibly whole season.
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) December 16, 2022
Pete Carroll compared Tyler Lockett's broken finger to the one Rashaad Penny suffered in 2018. I believe Rashaad broke his finger in mid-August and was ready to play in the season opener. But with that timeline, feels unlikely Tyler would make it back in regular season.
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) December 16, 2022
Carroll told the media that he “can’t fathom [the Seahawks] playing without Tyler,” according to Alyssa Charlston of Fox 13 in Seattle. Charlston provided video of the play that Lockett is believed to have suffered the injury on during Seattle’s final drive of the game:
Pete Carroll said Tyler Lockett broke his finger on the final drive of the game on a slant route. This has to be it. He gets up like nothing happened so it's hard to tell. Carroll said he "can't fathom playing without Tyler."
No estimation on how long he may be out. pic.twitter.com/hv6H0jDwqj— Alyssa Charlston (@Alyssacharlston) December 16, 2022
Even if the rehab time for Lockett’s injury were to only be a few weeks, there are only three games remaining on Seattle’s schedule.
It’s possible that Lockett could return for a postseason run, though. FiveThirtyEight currently gives the Seahawks a 34% chance to reach the playoffs as a Wild-Card team, but there’s very little room for error, and they’ll be heavy underdogs on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.
Additionally, Seattle’s offense isn’t the same without Lockett, who’s been one of the NFL’s most consistent and underrated receivers over the years.
Lockett, 30, has 78 receptions for 964 yards and eight touchdowns this season. On Thursday night, he led the Seahawks in receiving yards with 68, and he was tied for first in receptions with seven and targets with nine. He provides excellent route-running, hands, and the ability to stretch the field. If not for this injury, Lockett would surely pass the 1,000 yards receiving milestone for the fourth straight year.
Without Lockett, quarterback Geno Smith will likely depend more on DK Metcalf to make big plays in the Seattle passing game.
