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Brady Henderson
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald defended Derick Corridor on Wednesday within the wake of his one-game suspension, saying he would not imagine the third-year outdoors linebacker had any unhealthy intentions throughout an incident with Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson final Thursday evening.
Chatting with reporters for the primary time for the reason that NFL introduced Corridor’s suspension Friday and upheld it Monday on enchantment, Macdonald mentioned the Seahawks settle for the league’s determination however added, “I do not essentially agree with it.”
“Simply because we all know Derick as a participant, as an individual,” Macdonald mentioned. “Since he is been right here, he is been nothing however an A-plus-plus teammate, A-plus-plus soccer participant and member of our neighborhood. It is robust, so you’re feeling for him. However we have to select it up for him whereas he is gone.”
The NFL alleged that Corridor unnecessarily stepped on Dotson’s leg whereas Dotson was on the bottom on the finish of a play within the first quarter of the Seahawks’ 38-37 extra time win. In line with the league, that violated a rule that prohibits pointless roughness and one other one which applies to unsportsmanlike conduct, together with “any act which is opposite to the widely understood rules of sportsmanship.”
Dotson was carted off the sideline with an ankle harm and didn’t return. He was later seen outdoors the Rams’ locker room on crutches and with a strolling boot on his left foot.
Rams coach Sean McVay, a member of the NFL Competitors Committee, mentioned Friday that though he thought Dotson was injured earlier than Corridor stepped on him, “it actually did not assist the matter. And was undoubtedly not stuff we wish in our sport.”
Macdonald, although, mentioned Corridor’s model of occasions was that he tried to step over Dotson to keep away from getting rolled up on, and that Corridor’s toes have been on the bottom when his heel landed on Dotson’s leg.
“I simply actually refuse to imagine there was unwell intent in that play,” Macdonald mentioned.
Seahawks defensive deal with Leonard Williams shared an identical sentiment Tuesday.
“I do not know of my teammate Derick Corridor as a grimy participant, and I can not think about that he would deliberately attempt to damage a participant,” Williams mentioned. “From the movie, it appeared like he tried to step over the man. All of us jokingly are speaking about it now, that every little thing Derick does seems to be robust. He is simply strolling down the hallway wanting robust. So even the best way he stepped over the man appeared robust, and I suppose form of aggressive, however that is simply how we all know of him as an individual. I do not assume that he deliberately tried to harm a participant.”
A second-round choose in 2023, Corridor is a part of Seattle’s four-man outdoors linebacker rotation and averages roughly 30 snaps per sport. He has one sack and 10 quarterback hits in 13 video games this season after recording eight sacks and 20 QB hits in 2024.
Corridor will miss the Seahawks’ Week 17 sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and might be eligible to return to Seattle’s energetic roster the next day. As a part of his suspension, he’ll forfeit a weekly sport examine price roughly $87,700.
NFL gamers are banned from their group’s facility whereas suspended.
“He has some directions on how one can deal with his physique,” Macdonald mentioned. “However apart from that, there’s actually not a lot else you are able to do.”
With their win over Los Angeles, the Seahawks (12-3) gained sole possession of first place within the NFC West and took management of the convention’s high playoff seed. The Rams and 49ers (each 11-4) are solely a sport behind within the division standings. Seattle will shut out the common season in opposition to San Francisco at Levi’s Stadium.
Along with Corridor, the Seahawks’ protection may be with out security Coby Bryant on Sunday after he suffered a knee harm within the fourth quarter of the Rams sport. A supply advised ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Friday that Bryant is prone to miss a while. Neither Bryant nor left deal with Charles Cross, who missed the Rams sport with a hamstring harm, practiced Wednesday. Macdonald mentioned they will not must be positioned on injured reserve.
Cornerback Riq Woolen, who additionally damage his knee within the fourth quarter final Thursday evening, was not listed on Seattle’s harm report Wednesday.
ESPN’s Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.
