Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) drops a pass before being hit by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (1) during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett could miss just one game after hand surgery

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 12/27/22

Tyler Lockett is just seven days removed from hand surgery, but that doesn’t mean Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is ruling out the eighth-year receiver for Sunday’s Week 17 matchup against the New York Jets.

Lockett was on the team’s indoor practice field Monday, working toward his return, which may or may not come this week at Lumen Field.

"I don't know that yet," Carroll told reporters when asked if Lockett could play this week. "I know what he wants to do, he wants to play, so we'll see… He needs to find out, is he comfortable with being able to catch the football and hang onto it and all that kind of stuff?"

Pete Carroll says doctors who performed surgery on Tyler Lockett’s broken hand says there’s a chance he could return after missing only one game, to play Jan 1 vs the Jets. That would be remarkable, obviously @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/wySmKD1iZq
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 20, 2022

Lockett suffered the injury during a 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 15, fracturing the index finger on his left hand. The injury knocked him out of Seattle’s 24-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the following week. In his absence, D.K. Metcalf led the team with seven receptions on nine targets for 81 yards against the Chiefs, while Laquon Treadwell (three receptions for 26 yards) and Penny Hart (one reception for two yards) were the only other receivers to record a reception.

Lockett leads the Seahawks in touchdown receptions (8), receiving yards per game (68.9), and yards after the catch (257), and he ranks second on the team in receptions (78), targets (108), yards (964). His presence in the lineup would be a much-needed boost for a Seahawks offense that mustered just 200 yards passing against Kansas City.

“The question will be what it feels like (for Lockett) to catch football and hang on to it?” Carroll continued. “We're going to take all the time that we can, so we might not know that answer until way late in the week, but he'll be ready to go otherwise as far as the game plan."

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