Seahawks Put George Fant on Injured Reserve List

The Seattle Seahawks have placed starting right tackle George Fant on injured reserve, compounding the challenges facing their offensive line. This decision means Fant, who is 32 years old, will be sidelined for at least the next four games, with a possibility to return as early as Week 7.

Fant’s injury stems from a knee problem he incurred during the first quarter of the team’s season opener. Unfortunately, this injury kept him from finishing the game and also sidelined him for last weekend’s victory over the New England Patriots.

Throughout the week, Fant was listed as a limited participant in all three practices. However, he has now been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

With Fant out, the Seahawks will have to rely on their third-string option at right tackle, Stone Forsythe. Forsythe, a sixth-round pick from 2021, is expected to fill in as the starter again. In his last outing, he ranked 32nd among 60 qualifying tackles in pass block win rate, achieving 84.6%.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald expressed confidence in Forsythe’s abilities, stating, “I thought Stone played well. … I think from the second half on, from the Denver game through New England, I thought he’s doing a lot of nice things … He’s ready to go.”

After two weeks of action, the Seahawks find themselves at the bottom of the list in pass block win rate, with a dismal figure of 38.5%. This statistic only adds to the pressure on the offensive line as they continue to navigate various injuries.

Prior to Fant’s injury, he had been starting in place of Abe Lucas, who remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after undergoing knee surgery during the offseason. While Lucas could potentially return by Week 5, the Seahawks are currently preparing to be without him until at least midseason.

To bolster their tackle depth, the Seahawks have signed McClendon Curtis off their practice squad. They also elevated two players for Sunday’s game—inside linebacker Patrick O’Connell and outside linebacker Tyus Bowser—and re-signed safety Marquise Blair to their practice squad to fill an available roster spot.

In addition to Fant’s absence, the Seahawks have also ruled out outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu for the upcoming game. Running back Ken Walker III and inside linebacker Jerome Baker are both listed as doubtful, adding to the team’s injury concerns.

However, Coach Macdonald expressed optimism regarding Walker’s situation. Walker, recovering from an oblique injury sustained in the opener, is expected to return for the Seahawks’ Monday night clash against the Detroit Lions in Week 4. Macdonald said on Friday that he is “very confident” about Walker’s potential return to the field.