Rookie WR Metcalf

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 Rookie WR Metcalf set for knee surgery

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Carroll doesn't expect Metcalf's injury to derail him for long

Seattle Seahawks rookie receiver DK Metcalfneeds knee surgery, but coach Pete Carroll expressed optimism that he won't be sidelined for long.

"DK's got an injury to his knee that we found after a couple days," Carroll told reporters Sunday night after the Seahawks' 25-19 preseason loss to the Vikings in Minneapolis. "It happened a few days back. So there's something. We're gonna do some work on it Tuesday and get him back in a hurry. So we're disappointed for him because he was off to a fantastic start, but I don't think this is gonna derail him for long. But he does have to have some work done, and we'll know more about that when we get back into town."

Carroll said doctors have said a quick recovery from surgery was expected after looking at the results of an MRI, though he did not provide specifics on the nature of the injury.

Vikings top Seahawks 25-19 behind crisp preseason passing

Carroll did say there was optimism that Metcalf could be ready for Week 1. Metcalf was with the team in Minneapolis but did not play against the Vikings after taking part in all of the practices that were open to the media this past week; Friday's practice was closed.

Rookie second-round pick Marquise Blair, who is vying for a starting job, left the game with what Carroll said were back spasms.

"He had back spasms in the second half," Carroll said. "So I don't know what that means, but he had a play and his back got tight, and it kept getting tighter and he couldn't go back."

Paxton Lynch, who is competing with Geno Smith to be Russell Wilson's backup, also left the game after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from cornerback Holton Hill, who was ejected.

Rookie receiver DK Metcalf will undergo knee surgery, coach Pete Carroll said after Sunday's preseason loss against the Vikings. Metcalf was with the team in Minnesota, but didn't play in the game. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

"He went through the [concussion] protocol, and he's still in there now," Carroll said. "He felt like he was OK, but he's still got to pass those tests, so we'll recognize all the process and take care of that."

Backup guard Demetrius Knox, an undrafted rookie, suffered what Carroll called a "nasty" quad injury.

Metcalf, whom the Seahawks chose with the final pick of the second round after trading up to No. 64, has been the most impressive of their 11-member draft class. He quickly caught on during the offseason program and has continued to stand out during training camp while regularly working with the No. 1 offense.

If Metcalf is unavailable for Seattle's Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the Bengals, Jaron Brown and David Moore would be the most likely candidates to start alongside No. 1 receiver Tyler Lockett.

The Seahawks are already without defensive end L.J. Collier, their first-round pick, because of a sprained ankle that could keep him sidelined for the rest of the preseason, if not longer. That means Seattle's top three picks this year -- Collier, Blair and Metcalf -- are all dealing with injuries.

Lynch replaced Wilson (6 of 9, 82 yards) on Seattle's third possession Sunday. He was 6 of 15 for 67 yards and a near interception while playing behind a shaky offensive line before Hill's hit sent him to the sideline. J.T. Barrett took over for the final four minutes and went 0 for 3 with an interception.

Seattle signed Barrett last week with Smith recovering from Aug. 9 surgery to remove a cyst in his knee. Smith did not play Sunday.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he apologized to Carroll for Hill's hit on Lynch.

"Number one, we don't want to see anybody get hurt so I told Pete that after the game, sorry about his quarterback," Zimmer said. "Number two, he can't drop his head. But saying that, when a quarterback is running an option, he ought to be fair game other than lowering your head and hitting him in the head. So if they're going to let these quarterbacks be runners, then we should be able to hit them. He didn't hit him legally but we need to hit these guys."

Information from ESPN's Courtney Cronin was used in this reports. 

McCoy injury likely makes Keenum Skins' top QB

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Which Redskins WR has the most fantasy value? 

ASHBURN, Virginia -- The Washington Redskinsremain uncertain about when quarterback Colt McCoy will be able to play in a game, leaving Case Keenum on track to start the season opener.

McCoy has yet to play in the preseason and said Sunday that he has visited noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson twice since training camp began on July 25. McCoy suffered a broken right leg on Dec. 1 and needed three surgeries in the offseason. He has practiced throughout camp, but admitted early on that he was still having issues with his leg. He has not played in the preseason and did not practice Sunday.

McCoy said he did not have a setback in camp and said he expects to return "sooner rather than later."

"It might be two or three weeks into the season," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said of when McCoy might return. "We don't know yet. There's no timetable for him until he feels like he's 100% to push off that leg. Until that time comes, he's going to be rehabbing."

Colt McCoy's ongoing recovery from a broken leg likely means Case Keenum will be the Redskins' Week 1 starter at quarterback. Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports

But nobody quite knows when, or why it remains an issue. However, when he was hurt last season, the Redskins did not place him on injured reserve, thinking he might be available should they reach the postseason.

"That was probably part of the issue," Gruden said. "He probably rushed back, we probably rushed him back. So they had to go back in a little bit. That was nobody's fault, just a fluke deal that something else happened. Hopefully we get him right. He'll do whatever he can to get right, we've just got to get it right first."

Throughout training camp McCoy has been alternating with Keenum on a daily basis as far as who takes the first-team reps.

Dwayne Haskins showing talent, how much he still must learn

Keenum has started the first two preseason games. He has completed 7-of-16 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Gruden was not ready to name a starting quarterback, but said "ideally" one would be named after the third preseason game. The Redskins play at Atlanta on Thursday. They play at Philadelphia in the season opener.

"You might have your general thoughts on who it might be, but if something happens in the preseason game three where you might have to flop them, you never know," Gruden said.

Rookie Dwayne Haskins remains a possibility, but numerous people in the organization -- from front-office personnel to coaches and players -- have echoed the same point: He's talented but has a lot to learn before being ready to start. Because he's considered a pure drop-back passer -- and doesn't rely on his legs to threaten a defense -- the Redskins want him to master as many of the nuances of the position as possible before putting him in the game.

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During training camp, Haskins, the 15th overall pick in the draft, consistently worked third in the rotation among the quarterbacks. In the preseason games, they have played some of the starting offensive line with him when he's been in the game. Gruden said they might give him more time with the starters Thursday. In two games, Haskins has completed 15-of-29 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He's been sacked five times and fumbled once.

The coaches and Haskins have pointed out how much he's still learning, from calling the plays in the huddle to handling protection calls and throwing in rhythm. They liked last week how, on his 55-yard touchdown pass, his hard count forced the safeties to rotate early. That enabled him to alter the protection and change his progression pre-snap.

Last week, Haskins told ESPN, "It's just going to happen naturally, organically. I had to come to terms with that. Now that I've been here for a little bit, it's like, man, it's a process. ... By no means am I settling. I know that I want to be great and I know I will be great. It's just that I have to be in a place where I know what I'm doing. 

Wishes for early recovery.