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Malik McDowell could return this year

seahawksfan234

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Seahawks’ Malik McDowell cleared to resume working out

From the article:

Seattle hasn’t closed the door on McDowell potentially returning to the field this season, but it remains a bit of a long shot proposition. McDowell, one of two second-round picks selected by Seattle in May, remains on the non-football injury list for Seattle. Since he’s been largely unable to partake in physical activity since his accident, he isn’t close to being in football shape. The Seahawks have until the day after Week 11 to either add McDowell to their active roster on end his season by moving him to the injured reserve list. It gives Seattle five weeks to see if McDowell can get anywhere close to playing shape.

Good news seeing that Cliff Avril may have suffered a career ending injury and we may need some more defensive line depth.
 

seahawksfan234

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I think this is another key piece of information:

If McDowell does not play this season and remains on the non-football injury list, he would not accrue a season of service time. McDowell would essentially miss the entire season and begin the first year of his rookie contract next year.

There's a chance that unless McDowell gets into great shape and really impresses the coaches, there's a strong argument behind not playing him this year if he already missed most of the season. We'd essentially be burning a year of his contract for nothing. Might make financial sense to shelf him.
 

JMR

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So you're saying there's a chance.....

Would be great if it happens, but at this point I'll say it's gravy. The theory I heard tossed around about him this morning by Clayton is that they're keeping this carrot dangling in front of him as a motivator and that the chance he plays this year isn't very realistic. But you wanna keep that option on the table and see him motivated to do everything he can to get there.
 

dude82

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Seahawks’ Malik McDowell cleared to resume working out

From the article:



Good news seeing that Cliff Avril may have suffered a career ending injury and we may need some more defensive line depth.

Speaking of Avril...

Carroll: Cliff Avril headed to injured reserve, hints at possible retirement

I still wouldn't expect McDowell to play this year. It's already week 7 and it sounds like he was only cleared to begin working out a couple of weeks ago. According to the article, he has about a month to get into sufficient football shape just to start practicing with the team before the team has to decide whether to activate him or put him on IR. Getting into football shape isn't even going to be his biggest hurdle in trying to come back. His biggest hurdle will be how his brain responds to taking and giving hits again, even in practice. One bad/awkward hit or one bad/awkward landing could trigger another concussion. I read that it can take up to a year for concussion symptoms to go away completely depending on the severity of the original concussion or the number of previous concussions.

It's one thing to workout without contact, it's another thing to practice in pads with full contact. Assuming he gets into good enough physical shape to practice without hurting himself in other ways, he's not gonna have a whole lot of time to get worked into practicing with full pads and full contact while the doctors and concussion specialists evaluate how his brain is handling it before the team has to make that roster decision. I think we're looking at next season for McDowell. As much as it hurts to not have that extra defensive lineman available to step in for Avril, it would hurt even more to put McDowell on the roster only to have his concussion symptoms return. The slower they can take it with him, the better off he'll be and the better off the team will be.
 

seahawksfan234

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Speaking of Avril...

Carroll: Cliff Avril headed to injured reserve, hints at possible retirement

I still wouldn't expect McDowell to play this year. It's already week 7 and it sounds like he was only cleared to begin working out a couple of weeks ago. According to the article, he has about a month to get into sufficient football shape just to start practicing with the team before the team has to decide whether to activate him or put him on IR. Getting into football shape isn't even going to be his biggest hurdle in trying to come back. His biggest hurdle will be how his brain responds to taking and giving hits again, even in practice. One bad/awkward hit or one bad/awkward landing could trigger another concussion. I read that it can take up to a year for concussion symptoms to go away completely depending on the severity of the original concussion or the number of previous concussions.

It's one thing to workout without contact, it's another thing to practice in pads with full contact. Assuming he gets into good enough physical shape to practice without hurting himself in other ways, he's not gonna have a whole lot of time to get worked into practicing with full pads and full contact while the doctors and concussion specialists evaluate how his brain is handling it before the team has to make that roster decision. I think we're looking at next season for McDowell. As much as it hurts to not have that extra defensive lineman available to step in for Avril, it would hurt even more to put McDowell on the roster only to have his concussion symptoms return. The slower they can take it with him, the better off he'll be and the better off the team will be.

Yeah I'm unsure Avril going to the IR changes anything. Good points on McDowell.

Regarding Avril, apparently Avril said he's "not thinking" about retirement.
 

seattlefan75

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I dont know it think its a wait and see kinda thing I am all in this season. Aaron rodgers is hurt and the packers are out of it I feel that the NFC is wide open if injuries start happening on the DL like if Jones or Reed gets hurt I am not shelfing Mcdowell for next season if he is capable of playing and we have a #1 or #2 seed on the line we need to go into these games with everything we got.
 

Screamin12th

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McDowell was only 20 years old when the Hawks drafted him this season. Turned 21 ( legal age to drink ) and i have a strong feeling He was drunk when he had his ATV accident. Kid is super young so even if he is out for the full year he only turns 22 in June 2018.

If i was the Hawks i would shelf him once they have to make a choice. Don't do it now let him have something to work towards. Still if there is any doubt i would self him for the year. No need to risk it.
 
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