Seahawks can’t afford to lose Doug Baldwin

The Seattle Seahawks can’t afford to lose Doug Baldwin during the regular season, meaning they should give him more than ample time to rest his ailing knee.

It’s been a rough offseason for fans of the Seahawks. The team let a litany of talented veterans go including Sheldon Richardson, Paul Richardson, Richard Sherman, Michel Bennett, Jimmy Graham and others, while seeing Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril forced into retirement.

What’s left is the shell of a contender, and now there’s another name to be concerned about. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin is dealing with a balky knee, and while he’s only expected to be out for the first few weeks of the preseason, the Seahawks should take all possible cautions to keep him fresh for Week 1.

Baldwin, 29, finished last season with 991 yards, leading Seattle. The Seahawks are now without Richardson on the other side and Graham going down the seam, making Baldwin even more irreplaceable. Baldwin is likely going to be paired with Tyler Lockett on the outside, who has been an All-Pro as a return man but never become an impact player on offense.

Seattle is used to being a contender, but this season might bring a bit of a different look for the Emerald City. With the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers improved, the Seahawks could be fighting with the Arizona Cardinals to stay out of the NFC West basement. Who would have guessed that only a few years ago?

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For the Seahawks to have any hope of making an unexpected push, they need Baldwin to be at his best. Resting him throughout the remainder of the preseason wouldn’t be the worst idea.