Seattle Seahawks Offensive Guard Luke Joeckel to Miss at Least Four to Five Weeks After Knee Surgery
The Seattle Seahawks had hoped that Luke Joeckel would only miss their week-seven game against the New York Giants on Oct. 22 after he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee during their bye week. However, things didn't go according to plan and now they will have to make do without their starting left guard for at least a month.
"We're going to be optimistic that maybe he can make it back in four or five weeks and we'll see what happens," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said on Wednesday, via ESPN.
"Maybe that's possible and maybe that isn't. We've got to see how he heals and comes back around. He definitely needed to get some things cleaned up and that was taken care of and everything went beautifully, so he's very optimistic as well," he continued.
The former second overall pick has started all five games for the Seahawks, but his left knee has been bothering him all season long. Joeckel went under the knife to repair the medial collateral ligament (MCL), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral meniscus damage in his left knee last year, and he's still feeling the lingering effects of the injury.
Last year's starter, Mark Glowinski, should move back to the starting lineup when they take on the Giants. Rookie Ethan Pocic should see some action as well.
Meanwhile, Carroll also noted that Michael Bennett is ready to return to the practice field. The sixth-year defensive end sustained a plantar fascia foot injury in the second quarter of their 16–10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams earlier this month, but he believes that he will be ready for this Sunday's game against the Giants.
"It hurts every time you walk and it's something you have to deal with. Just fighting through it is just like any other day," Bennett said, via ProFootballTalk.