Dontae Johnson placed on IR, rookie Tre Flowers to start at cornerback for Seahawks

The injury news keeps piling up for the Seattle Seahawks heading into their week one matchup with the Denver Broncos. According to Tom Pelissero, the Seahawks have placed starting right cornerback Dontae Johnson on Injured Reserve with a hip injury.  Per Pelissero, the issue is not considered serious, and Dontae should be able to return in week nine.  Johnson, in his fifth year, was signed as a free agent from the San Francisco 49ers.  In a corresponding move, the Seahawks promoted cornerback Akeem King from the practice squad.

Tough blow before Week 1: The #Seahawks are putting starting CB Dontae Johnson on IR, per sources. Johnson popped up on the injury report this week with what Pete Carroll called a groin strain. Not considered serious, but availability was in doubt for Week 1.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 8, 2018

Johnson’s injury makes it likely that Seattle will now be forced to start rookie Tre Flowers at right cornerback.  Flowers played safety at Oklahoma State University before making the switch to cornerback after the Seahawks made him a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Standing at 6-3 with 35-inch arms, Tre has the build Seattle covets in their corners. With a 4.45-40, he has more than enough speed to hang with receivers on the outside.

Following the draft, Seahawks’ Head Coach Pete Carroll was effusive in his praise of Flowers.  “He’s got all of the tools that you’re looking for,” Carroll said. “He’s real long. He’s feet are really quick and light and he’s got terrific speed. And he’s already shown all of the abilities to make the plays by playing safety for all of those years, the tackles, the hits and the plays on the ball and all of that.”

Flowers has seen plenty of reps at cornerback during training camp and the preseason, with his performance coming in a bit up and down.  He will face a daunting challenge this week in the Broncos Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.

Pete Carroll when asked about #Seahawks rookie CB Tre Flowers potentially starting for Dontae Johnson: “He’s done a nice job. He started a couple of games for us already and if that’s the case, then he’s ready to go.”

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) September 8, 2018

Expect to see increased playing time for Neiko Thorpe and Justin Coleman on the outside as well.