Team news: Seattle Seahawks | Page 20

Broncos Head Coach Vic Fangio told reporters on Wednesday that tight end Noah Fant is doubtful to play this week against the Patriots due to his ankle injury.

Fant's injury looked serious after he was carted off the field but the news since then has been relatively positive and it appears Denver will not put him on injured reserve. It sounds like Fant has a shot to return for Week 6 against Miami. Monitor his status in practice over the rest of the week to get a better idea of when Fant will be back.

JoeFann of NBC Sports Northwest believes Greg Olsen could have a prominent role in Seattle's offensive scheme Sunday against the New England Patriots. "D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett feasted in Week 1, catching a combined 12 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown," wrote Fann. "They’ll have a much tougher time getting open on Sunday against the talented corner duo of Jackson and Gilmore."

"That leads me to believe that this could be a game where Greg Olsen shines. Pete Carroll said after the win in Atlanta that Olsen will have games where he catches 8-10 passes. This one would certainly seem like a game where Olsen has the more favorable matchup compared to Lockett and Metcalf."

Olsen will have to produce against the Patriots' excellent secondary for Seattle to win. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks prefer an up-tempo pace and have to connect through the air to keep their pace of play. The tight end position has had injuries burden the position already this season, so Olsen finishing as a TE1 is not a surprising thought.

The Broncos have the players to roll two tight ends in and out of the game. Nick Vannett and Noah Fant would be the starters in “12.” Jake Butt is healthy and versatile. Rookie Albert Okwuegbunam is a receiving threat. And Andrew Beck can play fullback and tight end.

Projected third receiver K.J. Hamler (hamstring) remains out. The first month of the season presents edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney (Titans), T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh) and Shaq Barrett (Tampa Bay), which means using the tight end in protection. And the best way to ease a young offense into the season is by having an effective running game. The extra tight end helps there, too, the story all said.

According to the Denver Post, Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant expressed his excitement at being used in different ways in offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s offensive scheme.

Noah Fant sounds excited about being a part of Pat Shurmur’s offense, saying “I’d say my favorite thing is I’m moving around a lot and he’s using me in different places — I’ll be in the slot, I’ll be in-line, I’ll be outside as a receiver.”. Fant getting looks in the slot and out wide will help to maximize his snap potential this season. Albert Okwuegbunam should push him for snaps, but Fant is the unquestioned starter. Rookie wide receiver K.J. Hamler’s injury may result in the Broncos utilizing more 12 personnel than originally anticipated, and Fant’s ability to be moved around the formation will only increase the possibility. Blessed with the skill set, size, and speed of a day two wide receiver, Fant has TE1 upside if the Broncos choose to unleash sophomore quarterback Drew Lock.

There’s no better way to signal the need for more competition in a particular position group than by bringing in a veteran player at the end of August, which is what the Seahawks did Sunday by re-signing wide receiver Paul Richardson.

The receiver room has been plagued by injuries lately, with Phillip Dorsett, John Ursua and Cody Thompson all missing time. But as I noted in my receiver outlook, even when that group was healthy, the wideouts not named Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf weren’t exactly making a case for Seattle continuing to use 11 personnel (three wide) the majority of the time.

The story said a healthy Richardson arguably has a higher ceiling than any of the other potential No. 3 WRs on the roster — but the author hasn't seen a ton of sixth-round rookie Freddie Swain the story said — so it’s not much of a surprise Seattle felt compelled to bring back the guy who had 703 yards and six touchdowns last time he played with Russell Wilson.