OCTOBER 30: Metcalf was able to practice for the first time on Friday, and the team announced earlier today that he will play against the Giants. The same is true of Lockett, meaning that Seattle will surprisingly have each of the top wideouts available when they host New York.

OCTOBER 24: The Seahawks’ win over the Chargers on Sunday appeared to come at a significant cost, as receiver D.K. Metcalf was carted off the field with a knee injury. Subsequent testing has revealed that the worst-case scenario has been avoided, however.

X-Rays came back negative immediately following the game, as confirmed by head coach Pete Carroll. Another update came on Monday, when an MRI revealed that Metcalf suffered a patellar tendon injury. That represents a positive development, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that surgery will not be required at this time.

Metcalf will instead attempt to rehab the injury. While the 24-year-old stated an intention of returning to practice on Wednesday, Carroll quickly downplayed the chances of that happening. Pelissero adds that there is no timetable in place regarding Metcalf’s recovery. More testing is likely to come.

While this news is generally positive, any absence from Metcalf would be detrimental to Seattle’s passing attack. Despite transitioning from Russell Wilson to Geno Smith at quarterback, the one-time Pro Bowler has averaged 59.7 receiving yards per game in 2022. That figure ranks second in his career, and slightly ahead of his 967-yard, 12-touchdown campaign last year.

On the back of his three years of production, the Ole Miss product staged a hold-in during the summer. The move fell in line with that of a number of other extension-eligible players, and resulted in a three-year, $72MM deal which includes more than $58MM guaranteed. Overall, Metcalf ranks second on the Seahawks with 418 receiving yards this season.

The former second-rounder has yet to miss a game in his NFL career, something which is very likely to change in the coming days. An extended stay on the sidelines would deal a considerable blow to the Seahawks’ 15th-ranked passing game, and place a larger burden on leading receiver Tyler Lockett and tight ends Will Dissly and Noah Fant. Marquise Goodwin would likely step into a starter’s role in place of Metcalf.

One of the few minicamp no-shows this year, D.K. Metcalf is part of the glut of high-profile receivers going into contract years. Metcalf took care of one piece of business Tuesday, returning to work.

The fourth-year wideout reported to training camp, Brady Henderson and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com note (on Twitter). Metcalf only incurred a fine in the $90K range for missing minicamp. Players are fined $40K per day for training camp absences.

Still, the CBA’s crackdown on holdouts — a measure which also includes, after barely a week’s worth of absences, stripping a year of service time toward free agency — has left the door open to the “hold-in” tactic. Metcalf could follow Jamal Adams and Duane Brown‘s lead by not working out with his teammates once at practices. Adams staged his “hold-in” last year but returned to the field after receiving a then-safety-record contract extension. Metcalf is not expected to receive a record-setting wideout deal, but it would not surprise if he followed Adams’ path and watched workouts.

Metcalf’s decision to skip minicamp surprised some in the organization, but both Metcalf and Pete Carroll have expressed optimism about an extension being finalized. Though, this process is not expected to be wrapped up early in camp. Late last month, a report emerged indicating a Metcalf deal “hardly seemed like a slam dunk.” GM John Schneider noted earlier this offseason how much the new wide receiver market — one that now features Metcalf college teammate and fellow 2019 Day 2 draftee A.J. Brown attached to a $25MM-per-year deal — has changed the game for teams. The new market, which also has seen 2019 Day 2 pick Terry McLaurin sign a $23MM-per-year deal, has put the Seahawks to a rather key decision.

How the post-Russell Wilson Seahawks, a team that used one of the more run-oriented attacks before Wilson’s exit, proceed here will be one of the top storylines to follow between now and Week 1.

The D.K. Metcalf storyline remains the most important one for the Seahawks during this offseason. In a breakdown of the situation as things currently stand, ESPN’s Brady Henderson writes that an extension being signed in the near future “hardly seems like a slam dunk.” 

The Seahawks have stated on a number of occasions that they intend to come to an agreement on a long-term deal with the 24-year-old wideout. Metcalf himself has likewise expressed a desire and expectation to remain in Seattle, despite the departures of Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner this offseason.

The other main factor in negotiations, of course, is the massive spike in the receiver market which has taken place in recent months. Among the beneficiaries of that trend is A.J. Brown, Metcalf’s former college teammate. The pair also share an agent, something which could work against the Seahawks during contract talks. Henderson reports that Tory Dandy, the player rep in question, could be “more motivated to top Brown’s deal [with a Metcalf extension] than he would be if another agent negotiated it,” citing a poll of other agents.

Brown signed a four-year, $100MM extension with the Eagles after his draft-day trade to Philadelphia. The aforementioned agents estimate a range of outcomes in Metcalf talks between a contract very similar in length and value on one hand, and a breakdown in negotiations requiring a trade as the ultimate outcome on the other. Seattle received calls about Metcalf’s availability in the build-up to the draft, but maintained that they intended to keep him, even at the risk of a free agent departure next offseason.

The fact that a trade never materialized opened the door to negotiations continuing, but Metcalf’s unexcused absence from minicamp was an unexpected turn of events from Seattle’s perspective. Still, Henderson reports that head coach Pete Carroll remains “no less optimistic about getting a deal done” than he was during OTAs. As training camp draws nearer, the progress made on extension talks will dictate how much – if at all – the team will need to consider its trade options with one of its top players.

Jun. 12: In recent remarks to reporters, including Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, Carroll confirmed that “there have been conversations” between the team and Metcalf on a new contract (video link). However, he also classified the negotiations as “semi-quiet” at this time, adding that the next few weeks before the start of training camp will be crucial to this process.

Jun. 7: D.K. Metcalf is rehabbing from offseason foot surgery, but the fourth-year Seahawks receiver will continue to do so on his own. Metcalf is not at Seahawks minicamp, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Seahawks were scheduled to convene for their mandatory offseason sessions next week but are instead holding it this week.

Unlike skipping OTAs, this can be considered a holdout. Players can be fined more than $90K for missing all of minicamp, though teams can also excuse absences. This absence is not excused, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. While that money is not especially significant for a player on the cusp of a monster extension, Metcalf’s absence certainly is notable given his current situation.

The 24-year-old wideout was not linked to missing even OTAs this offseason, differing from a few of his receiver peers, and even showed up for some. A minicamp absence changes the equation a bit.

Metcalf has said he wants to stay in Seattle and expects to. Pete Carroll expects a resolution, though the 13th-year Seahawks HC said a deal will take some time. Contract talks have taken place, according to Rapoport, who adds Metcalf is rehabbing his injury in Los Angeles. Metcalf is set to make $3.99MM in base salary this season. Like the other lot of extension-seeking wideouts from the 2019 draft, Metcalf is due for free agency in 2023, with fifth-year options only present in first-rounders’ deals.

The Seahawks have a big decision to make with Metcalf, who has become an upper-echelon receiver despite pre-draft doubts that dropped him to No. 64 overall. Seattle may lean harder toward a run-oriented offense post-Russell Wilson, and although moving the perennial Pro Bowl quarterback’s salary off the books (beyond a considerable 2022 dead-money hit) opens some space for the Seahawks to work salary-wise, the new wide receiver market could push Metcalf’s asking price beyond $25MM per year. Former Ole Miss teammate A.J. Brown received a $25MM-AAV deal from the Eagles but needed a trade to get there. GM John Schneider mentioned the challenges of the new receiver market, and those comments came before the Brown extension.

Metcalf generated trade calls this offseason and was linked to the Jets, who were linked to many high-end wideouts before opting to draft Garrett Wilson 10th overall. Even as interest emerged, Metcalf was linked to a Seahawks extension. The Seahawks have done major extensions during camp, re-upping the likes of Wilson (2015), Bobby Wagner (2015, 2019) and Jamal Adams (2021) in that window. Metcalf could be next, but if he misses all of minicamp, trade rumblings could resurface.

Seattle has already jettisoned Wilson and Bobby Wagner this offseason. Metcalf represents a cornerstone-type player. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020, a 1,303-yard season, and played hurt last year. Metcalf’s numbers suffered due to the injuries sustained by he and Wilson; he finished with just 967 yards in 17 games. Brown is also a one-time Pro Bowler. Although Brown has moved past the extension-seeking glut in which his peers reside, Metcalf still joins a few others — Deebo Samuel, Terry McLaurin, Diontae Johnson — as high-profile receivers entering contract years. How many will be extended profiles as one of the offseason’s top remaining storylines.