Tyler Lockett says he can heal his hand later, but leaving decision to play up to Seahawks

Tyler Lockett’s hand looked noticeably less swollen.

It’s no longer looking like an over mitt, as it was midweek.

He’s been catching passes in practices all week. Friday, he was a full participant in the Seahawks’ indoor workout. He’s even been fielding punts, out of a JUGS machine, nine, 10 and 11 days after surgery to repair his broken left hand.

The Seahawks list their captain and top wide receiver officially questionable to play to play Sunday in their must-win game against the New York Jets at Lumen Field. Lockett fully intends to play — with 10 screws and a metal plate in his left hand below his index finger.

“We are only guaranteed two games, until we get something else,” Lockett said of the regular season and the playoff chances for Seattle (7-8), which has lost five of its last six games.

“I could sit home in the offseason and get my hand right.”

Yet he is leaving the decision to return after missing just one game up to the Seahawks and their medical staff.

“It’s gotten better,” he said.

“Obviously, I got surgery, but the trainers did a good job padding me up...to where I can go out there and, you know, play the same way I’ve been playing.

“It’s their decision. Sometimes you have to have people protect you from yourself. So they’ve got to find the best way, if I am able to play, to be able to take of my hand and make sure my hand is good, for them — because for me, I don’t really care that much.

“They are looking out for me more than me.”

The Seahawks need Lockett to balance their offense, and keep the Jets from double-teaming fellow wide receiver DK Metcalf as much as Kansas City did last weekend. Seattle went 2 for 14 on third-down conversions playing without Lockett, quarterback Geno Smith’s trusted target on third downs. That’s a large reason why the Seahawks held Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s top-ranked defense down yet still lost 24-10.

Lockett and coach Pete Carroll said the eighth-year veteran who has missed only two games because of injury in his career had no pain catching the ball in practices this week. He first started catching with his stitched left hand in a morning walkthrough Wednesday, then again as a limited participant in the afternoon practice Thursday before the team designated him as a full participant Friday.

Lockett said he first started catching a ball before that.

“My girl was throwing me a foam football,” he said, smiling.

“Just with catching the ball, I feel the same. I mean, if I’m out there playing I’m not about to use this as an excuse.”

Carroll said Lockett “did well” in practices this week, “quite well.”

Lockett sustained a spiral fracture of his first metacarpal Dec. 15 on Seattle’s final possession of a 21-13 loss to San Francisco. He fell on his left hand trying to catch a low throw from Smith. Lockett finished the final two plays of the drive, but said he knew something was wrong because he couldn’t straighten his hand out of a C shape.

When he got to the Seahawks’ sideline at the end of the drive, he learned his hand was broken.

He didn’t want surgery; he dreaded his hospital stay he had over Christmas 2016 for a broken leg, the only other time he’d missed a game because of injury. Doctors told him the hand would have healed without an operation, but over months. He opted for surgery when told one could get Lockett back to play for this game Sunday against the Jets.

“We are just checking him, making sure he’s OK,” Carroll said of Lockett’s designation as questionable while signs are he’s playing.

Kenneth Walker ready to play

Rookie lead running back Kenneth Walker is officially listed as questionable, as is Lockett. Walker is also expected to play, again through an ankle injury as he did on his 100-yard rushing day at Kansas City last weekend.

“He’s going to have fresh legs,” Carroll said.

Carroll said defensive tackle Al Woods has looked good returning from his Achilles injury. The co-captain of the defense has missed the last two games.

Marquise Goodwin has a shoulder injury on top of the wrist he re-injured against the Chiefs. The veteran wide receiver has been wearing a sling. He is doubtful to play against the Jets.

With Lockett’s issue and Goodwin’s injury, the Seahawks are thin at wide receiver for the weekend. It’s possible they elevate one from the practice squad, perhaps former Washington State Cougar Eason Winston.

Starting strong safety Ryan Neal and starting rookie right tackle Abe Lucas did not practice all week. They are listed as questionable and seem less likely to play.

Johnathan Abram and Teez Tabor split time filling in for Neal last weekend at Kansas City and likely will again Sunday.

Stone Forsythe is ready to make his first career start at right tackle for Lucas. Forsythe, Seattle’s sixth-round draft choice in 2021, replaced Lucas in the second half at Kansas City. Those were the first snaps Lucas missed this season.