Seahawks afternoon--and, they hope, evening--of intrigue begins in a fittingly Seattle way

The Seahawks’ final regular-season Sunday afternoon — and, they hoped, evening — of intrigue began fittingly.

With constant, cold rain.

“Why not on a rainy day in Seattle, right?” general manager John Schneider said on the Seahawks’ radio network before kickoff of his team against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. “Playoffs, playoff football. Let’s go.”

It was the first truly soaked, cold, quintessential Pacific Northwest winter day of the Seahawks home schedule of games this season. And, to Schneider’s point, the playoffs essentially began for Seattle last weekend.

That’s when the Seahawks had to and did beat the New York Jets to stay in contention for the final postseason spot in the NFC. Seattle entered Sunday 8-8 needing to beat the Rams for the second time in five weeks, then have 8-8 Detroit win Sunday night at 8-8 Green Bay. The Lions entered the game having won at Lambeau Field over their NFC North-rival Packers just three times since 1992.

No matter Sunday’s results, Seattle owned a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over Detroit, but lost a conference-record tiebreaker with Green Bay, if the Seahawks and Packers ended up both 9-8.

For Damar Hamlin

During pregame warmups before the game Sunday, Seahawks players and coaches, including quarterback Geno Smith, defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt and assistant defensive backs coach DeShawn Shead wore black shirts with the words “Love for Damar” and Damar Hamlin’s Buffalo Bills jersey number 3.

Hamlin remained in the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Sunday and continues to improve after collapsing in cardiac arrest on the field after making a tackle in the Bills’ game against the Bengals last Monday night.

Strong safety, other decisions upcoming

The end of the regular season brings the annual batch of decisions this coming offseason on contract and which players to retain, and release.

Johnathan Abram’s audition for a Seahawks job beyond his fill-in one to end this season continued Sunday.

The former first-round draft choice of the Raiders started for the second consecutive game replacing injured Ryan Neal at strong safety Sunday.

Abram played every snap the previous week in the Seahawks’ win over the New York Jets. Coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt moved Abram around in multiple roles against New York. He was a run-stopper up closer to the line of scrimmage more like a linebacker. He was a sixth defensive back on passing downs dropping deep. He was covering tight ends and wide receivers.

The Seahawks have a decision to make on the 26-year-old Abram, and on Neal. They claimed him off waivers Nov. 30, on a contract for the rest of the 2022 season.

“A lot of it is that when a guy comes in, not only are you teaching the defense, but you want to also see what he can handle. Guys can play fast and be smart players, but if you are putting too many layers on different positions on the defense and you slow him down, then you have done him a disservice,” Hurtt said, talking about giving Abram many roles late this season.

“A lot of it is kind of learning him, what he can handle, very much the plan that we had doing some things with Jamal (Adams) in that sense, and moving him around as a ‘nickel’, safety, and all of those things.

“He’s handled it well. He’s continuing to learn, grow, and clean up some things along the way. He’s done a nice job.”

For 2023, Seattle expects $70 million safety Adams to return from a torn quadriceps tendon and knee injury he got in this season’s opener Sept. 12 against Denver.

Neal’s contract ends with this season. The 27-year-old veteran of the last four Seahawks seasons has been clutch the last two years replacing the injured Adams and making sure tackles short of lines to gain on third downs.

Neal played through injuries this season, before his bruised knee got too painful to continue on two weeks ago.

Carroll loves Neal, for his grit and determination. He seems likely to return for 2023.

Inactives vs. Rams

Seattle’s other inactive players Sunday beyond Neal were reserves: wide receiver Penny Hart, cornerback Artie Burns, linebacker Vi Jones, injured Phil Haynes, defensive tackle Isaiah Mack and linebacker Joshua Onujiogu.

Haynes got a high-ankle sprain last week alternating at right guard with veteran Gabe Jackson, as he has for most of this season.

The Seahawks have Jackson, 31, under contract for one more season, scheduled at $6.5 million in base pay for 2023. If they release him before June 1 they would save $4.76 million.

Haynes, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2019, is ending the final year of his contract. He’s been set back for years by injuries.

On Saturday, the Seahawks signed Onujiogu off their practice squad, and put running back Travis Homer on injured reserve because of his high-ankle sprain.

With Jordyn Brooks out and facing surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, Seattle elevated middle linebacker Alexander Johnson plus wide receiver Cade Johnson off the practice squad for Sunday’s game.

Schneider sounded optimistic on the radio before Sunday’s game about Brooks’ motivation to get started on his rehabilitation once he has knee surgery when the swelling from his injury last week subsides. The usual recovery time from ACL surgery is eight to 12 months, which would mean September well into the 2023 season.

“Everyone feels awful for him,” Schneider said.

“He’s going to get after it, get into the rehab right away and get rolling.”