Frank Clark has new hamstring injury 4 days before game Seahawks could use his pass rush

RENTON Frank Clark has a new hamstring injury, putting the pass rusher’s availability for Sunday’s game against Atlanta and a high-flying offense in some doubt.

That was the most noteworthy item on the Seahawks’ practice report from Wednesday.

Clark’s absence is curious; the team is coming off its bye week and coach Pete Carroll had said the day after Seattle’s last game, the win Oct. 2 at the New York Jets, how the team came out of that game with no new injuries.

The Seahawks have used Clark effectively as a speed rusher inside next to Pro Bowl end Michael Bennett on passing downs, with Cassius Marsh joining end Cliff Avril outside. Clark, Seattle’s top draft choice in 2015, has three sacks in four games.

With Atlanta and Matt Ryan leading the league in passing and scoring, the Seahawks are likely to be in nickel defense with a speedy front four rushing most of Sunday’s showdown between division leaders.

Clark was watching the start of practice wearing a bucket hat while the rest of his healthy teammates were in helmets.

Russell Wilson’s sprained knee and ankle continue to look better; offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said the quarterback “looks good.”

“He looks improved,” the play caller said following practice. “I’m not going to put a percentage on it, where’s he’s at, but he’s getting better every day.”

Rookie defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson recently had surgery to repair a break in his thumb and will likeky be out at least another week, Carroll has said.

Lead running back Thomas Rawls will be out into November with a cracked fibula.

Rookie second-round pick Jarran Reed started the first three games at defensive tackle before a hip injury kept him out of the win over the Jets.

“Yeah, he looks good,” Carroll said, adding it will be important to see how he comes out of Wednesday’s limited work. “Trainers think he’s in good shape and ready to go. We anticipate that he’ll be able to contribute” Sunday.

Atlanta practice Wednesday at Husky Stadium, where the Falcons will be all week for a price of $4,100. But top wide receiver Julio Jones did not participate in practice, according to Atlanta’s report, because of a knee injury.

The Falcons did make Jones, who had 300 yards receiving in a game two weeks ago, available to talk to the Seattle-area media Wednesday. That is an indication he will play Sunday in a highly anticipated matchup with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Frank Clark has new hamstring injury 4 days before game Seahawks could use his pass rush."