Seahawks ‘optimistic’ DK Metcalf to return vs. Rams. But 1st: Fix issues from Bills loss

DK Metcalf to rescue this week?

Maybe.

His coach emphasized Monday the Seahawks were so poor in their last game that even the hulking, star wide receiver likely would not have been a decisive difference.

Metcalf intends to practice this week in hopes of returning from his sprained knee to play this weekend when Seattle (4-4) hosts the Los Angeles Rams (3-4) at Lumen Field.

The top target of quarterback Geno Smith missed the Seahawks’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. That was because of the sprained medical collateral ligament he got landing after a catch out of bounds the week before, in his team’s win at Atlanta.

Metcalf stood on the sidelines in a team raincoat and sweats with the hood pulled up in Seattle’s rain Sunday. He watched his offense run a season-low 47 plays and blow two first-and-goal chances for touchdowns in the first half.

“Looking optimistic,” coach Mike Macdonald said about Metcalf’s chances to play against the Rams this week.

“He hasn’t practiced yet. So let’s let him practice and then see how he feels before we start making judgments on the week.

“But we are optimistic for this week.”

Macdonald on Monday echoed his sullen tone and statements immediately after the loss to the Bills the day before.

“There’s not a lot of bright spots,” the head coach said of the Seahawks’ fourth loss in five games since their 3-0 start to the Macdonald era.

Of his defense that allowed Buffalo 166 yards rushing and its season-high 445 yards in all: “It needs to be more violent. It needs to be more physical.”

The rookie coach saw so many problems, he believes Metcalf playing seven days after spraining his knee probably would not have fixed them.

“DK’s a heck of a player. And he can take the top off the defense. He can catch a catch-and-run and score, like we’ve seen him throughout the season,” Macdonald said Monday.

“But we knew this game was going to be kind of a win-per-yard-type of game. Buffalo does a good job of eliminating explosives (gains of 15-plus yards). If you can kind of whittle away at it, the explosives can come to life.”

Seattle had just four plays of 15 or more yards against Buffalo, and none longer than Smith’s 20-yard pass to rookie tight end AJ Barner. The Seahawks were 1 for 7 on third-down conversion attempts. Those were seasons lows for conversions and attempts.

Running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet rushed just 12 times for 17 yards. Adding Smith’s QB scrambles, the Seahawks’ 32 yards rushing were a season low.

That’s why they also had a season-low possession time of just 21:57 seconds.

“So we needed to do a better job of staying on the field offensively, keeping the ball moving forward, keep getting first downs, and then, ultimately, knocking it in in the red zone,” Macdonald said.

That would have been an issue against the Bills with or without Metcalf.

The Seahawks began the game with two three-and-out drives with punts. Seven of the first nine plays, the script offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb crafted all week to exploit Buffalo’s defense, were pass calls.

“For us, we start talking about fast. Two three-and-outs to start the game is unacceptable. That is not the standard,” Smith said. “Just the way in which we started the second half, didn’t get points, had a turnover. Not the standard.

“And so when you talk about all the things we want to do well, I don’t think we did any of those (against the Bills). We’ve got to look at ourselves, in the mirror, and take it from there.”

The biggest issues: The two failed first-and-goals Seattle had against Buffalo. Metcalf could not have changed center Connor Williams snapping a shotgun snap from the 3-yard line 5 yards over Smith’s head for a 19-yard loss. Metcalf also wouldn’t have been on the field for the fourth and goal from the 1 on which Williams got pushed back at his direct snap and stepped on Smith’s foot. Smith tripped and fell to the ground to end that play before it began.

“No, DK Metcalf is one of one. But we’ve got a lot of really good players that can play. We expect them to go in and execute at a high level,” Macdonald said.

“We need to be able to move the ball on the ground and in the air. We’ve got to be able to score in the red zone.

“DK wouldn’t have been out there on the goal line on the 1- or 2-yard line.”