Ezekiel Ansah hoped to be starting on the field by the time the Seattle Seahawks play a tough squad in the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his debut for his new team would have to wait at least another week.
Ian Rapaport of NFL Network confirmed less than 12 hours before the Seahawks were slated to play the Steelers that Pete Carroll is not risking his new defensive end against Pitt.
#Seahawks DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) is not expected to play today vs. the #Steelers, per me and @TomPelissero. He should be 100% next week and ready to make his season debut.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2019
If there's any consolation for the disappointed Seattle fans, the former Detroit Lion should be ready to suit up and tackle opponents with his full power.
While he's not slated to play, he's done enough in practice to impress the coaching staff.
“He practiced all week long,” coach Pete Carroll said Friday, per Seahawks Wire's Liz Matthews. “He did all right. He practiced all week. He wasn’t limited at all. At this point, he’s almost there. He may be there, we’ll find out. See if we can get him to play this week. He’s getting really close.
“If he doesn’t go this week, he certainly has a great chance for next week.”
Ziggy must be disappointed to not be playing against the Steelers. After all, he told Tim Booth last week that he's eager to play some snaps.
”I just can't wait to hit somebody,” Ansah said Thursday. ”I can't wait to make my first tackle, I can't wait to get my first sack, I just can't wait to get out there and play with the guys here in this building. We have a bunch of great guys here, and I can't see myself anywhere but here and I'm really excited to be a part of this program.”
The Seahawks' narrow win over the Cincinnati Bengals proved that they will need Ansah's production. However, Carroll would rather have his defensive end fully ready to hit next week than risk another injury this week.
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