Written by Seattle Times Staff and Bob Condotta
Seahawks rookie defensive lineman Malik McDowell, who was the team’s first pick in the 2017 NFL draft, was injured in an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) accident roughly two weeks ago and it’s unclear if or when he will be able to play this season.
The team announced the situation with McDowell in a statement following Sunday’s first training camp practice of the season which was initially read to reporters by one of the team’s public relations directors, referring to it as a “vehicular accident.” It was later confirmed by the Times that McDowell was injured while riding his ATV in his native Michigan (he is from Detroit). An NFL Network report that McDowell had suffered a concussion and facial injuries was also said to be accurate.
The team did not reveal details of his injuries nor give a specific prognosis for McDowell, who remains in Michigan. But the team said McDowell, who was the 35th overall pick in the 2017 draft, could return to Seattle soon and McDowell also wrote via Twitter later in the day that he expects to “be back on the field in the near future.
Asked if McDowell, who played at Michigan State, will be able to play this season, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said “We’ll see. I don’t know that.” Asked if the injuries are long term Carroll said only “we’ll wait and see what’s going on.”
Carroll and team officials said they were respecting McDowell’s wishes for privacy in not giving out more specific details about the incident, but Carroll said “I think there will be more (information) in the short term.”
Carroll called the incident “unfortunate” and that it is “challenging” for McDowell to handle it.
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