Locker Room Roundup: Players try to turn page after disappointing finish

Seattle Seahawks v Carolina Panthers

RENTON -- The Seahawks were playing football on Sunday and clearing out their belongings from their locker room on Monday.

The end of a season happens just that quickly in the playoffs.

"I wasn't expecting to be out at this point," tight end Jacob Hollister said.

"We were just practicing Thursday, Friday, Saturday, lose Sunday and now it's all over and basically we've got to start over," wide receiver DK Metcalf said. "That's basically how I feel. I don't know what to do. ... I don't know what is going to happen next year. It's a scary part because I got so close to so many people this year and just not knowing the future, that's scary."

The team went through their final meetings with the coaching staff, had their exit interviews with medical personnel and packed up their possessions from their lockers before heading out of the building.

The Seahawks have 19 players set to be unrestricted free agents - which includes all four members of their starting defensive line - and four restricted free agents.

Here are a handful of the important samplings from around the locker room as the team turns toward the offseason:

-- Bobby Wagner learns of some knee, ankle injury issues.

Sometimes you can be injured and not even know it. Linebacker Bobby Wagner found out on Monday that he has been playing through some issues that affected his knee and ankle He mentioned the injuries when asked if he would play in the Pro Bowl.

"Pro Bowl I haven't decided yet. I have to figure out some stuff health-wise so that's going to decide whether I play or not," Wagner said.

Wagner added that there's some things with his knee and ankle that could require further attention. However, head coach Pete Carroll said later that the initial thoughts are that surgery wouldn't be necessary.

-- Chris Carson recovering from hip injury that ended season, not focused on contract.

Running back Chris Carson was lost for the season in a Week 16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a fractured hip. Carson said Monday that the injury didn't occur on his final play of the game and he didn't realize immediately the severity of the issue.

Carson was glad that the injury would not require surgery.

"I'm thankful I didn't have to get surgery. That's the biggest thing for me mentally," Carson said. "I'm good, 100 percent as good as I can be (at this point). I'm good, I'm fine."

Carson said he'll need to stay on crutches for another 6-7 weeks. Once he's cleared by doctors, he plans to return to Atlanta to do his offseason training. He believes he'll be ready to go for training camp.

"You never know but that's the goal," Carson said.

Carson is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract with the Seahawks. He is now eligible to negotiate a new contract with the team. As a former seventh-round pick making league minimum through each of his first three seasons, Carson has plenty of reason to seek a new deal from Seattle. However, he said it's not something he's focused on right now.

"I don't think about that ever," Carson said.

-- George Fant wants an opportunity to start, play.

After four seasons learning professional football and serving mostly as a reserve and extra lineman, tackle George Fant heads off to free agency in search of an opportunity to play. He believes he's shown he's capable of the job and wants the chance to start.

"I got to show my confidence at left tackle this year," Fant said. "I got to show I'm a left tackle in this league. I feel like I'm a starting in this league. I got to showcase that in a couple games."

Fant has officially started 24 out of 46 games during his tenure with Seattle. Fant has started roughly half of those games at left tackle and the other half as an extra tight end. He now wants a legitimate chance to become a starting tackle.

"To have the opportunity to become a starter. That's the main thing for me. I'm really excited for it," Fant said of what he's looking forward to.

Fant is blocked from that chance at left tackle by Duane Brown. Right tackle Germain Ifedi is also set to be a free agent as well and that job would appear open for discussion. Does Fant view that chance to start as being a possibility with Seattle?

"I don't know," Fant said. "We'll see. Things changes. The ball is in everybody else's court. I've done what I can do so that's about it."

-- Jarran Reed would like to return to Seahawks

Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is set to be a free agent in March. After missing the first six games of the year to suspension, Reed started every game upon returning to the team in mid-October.

Reed had 10.5 sacks a season ago in a breakout campaign for him. However, he managed just two sacks and 27 tackles in 10 games for the team this year.

"Of course the numbers weren't there," Reed said. "Everybody was expecting it coming in to just take over but I don't feel like it went that bad. I left a few sacks out there that I could have had. As long as the team was winning, I was fine. It's never been about me."

Reed said he would like to be back in Seattle next season but has no clue what's in store.

"I've been here four years. I consider this home. Everything will take care of itself," Reed said.

Unrestricted Free Agents:

  • DE Jadeveon Clowney
  • DT Jarran Reed
  • LB Mychal Kendricks
  • OT Germain Ifedi
  • OT George Fant
  • DT Al Woods
  • DE Quinton Jefferson
  • G Mike Iupati
  • DE Ziggy Ansah
  • QB Geno Smith
  • CB Neiko Thorpe
  • TE Luke Willson
  • WR Josh Gordon
  • WR Jaron Brown
  • CB Akeem King
  • RB Marshawn Lynch
  • RB C.J. Prosise
  • RB Robert Turbin
  • DE Dekoda Watson

Restricted Free Agents:

  • TE Jacob Hollister
  • C Joey Hunt
  • DE Branden Jackson
  • WR David Moore

Photo Credit: CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 15: Chris Carson #32 of the Seattle Seahawks stiff arms Ross Cockrell #47 of the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)


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