Metcalf on cusp of besting 35-year-old Seattle record

As wide receiver DK Metcalf was finishing his rookie season a year ago, he glanced at the Seattle record book.

After having 900 yards receiving as a rookie, Metcalf knew the single-season franchise record was within reach.

“I knew it was going to be on the agenda this year to break it,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf could break Steve Largent’s record that has stood for 35 years with one catch Sunday. He’s only 6 yards away.

Largent had 1,287 yards receiving in 1985, the best of a nine-season run during which the Hall of Famer topped 1,000 yards eight times. Largent failed to reach the mark only during the strike-shortened 1982 season.

The Seahawks only can hope this season is the beginning of a similar run by their second-year star, who looks like one of biggest draft steals in recent memory.

“He can make every catch, do everything you want him to do,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “To be even mentioned in the same category as a guy like Steve Largent so early is a blessing in itself.”

Metcalf goes into Week 17 against San Francisco sixth in the league in yards receiving (1,282), touchdown catches (10) and yards per reception (16.0). He’s the second Seattle wide receiver to receive a Pro Bowl selection in his first two seasons, joining Brian Blades.

In his first matchup against the 49ers this season, Metcalf had 12 catches for 161 yards and two TDs.

■ Vikings: Quarterback Kirk Cousins will make it through a sixth straight season — he first became a full-time starter for Washington in 2015 and signed with Minnesota in 2018 — without missing a game to injury. The only other NFL QBs to do so in that span are Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson and Tom Brady.

Rivers and Wilson have started all 95 games since the start of 2015, one more than Cousins and Matt Ryan. Cousins was held out of the final 2019 game with the Vikings’ playoff spot clinched. Ryan’s absence was in 2019, because of an ankle injury. Brady missed four games in 2016 for a league suspension.

■ Saints: Running backs Latavius Murray and Dwayne Washington, fullback Michael Burton and running backs coach Joel Thomas were ruled out for Sunday after being deemed close contacts to running back Alvin Kamara, who tested positive for COVID-19. None of the other running backs tested positive, and all are expected back next week.

■ Washington: Center Chase Roullier signed a four-year, $40.5 million extension, with $19 million guaranteed. The 27-year-old Wyoming product started 16 games in 2018 and 14 in 2019. He has played every snap on offense this season and has a career-high runblock win rate of 76.1 percent.

■ Eagles: Coach Doug Pederson is expected to return next season and has a meeting set for Tuesday with owner Jeffrey Lurie to discuss 2021 plans. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz plans to take a year off from coaching while contemplating retirement, ESPN reported.

■ Browns: The team closed its facility for the third time in four days after wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea tested positive for COVID-19. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan and assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters won’t coach Sunday because of virus protocols.

■ Steelers: Cornerback Joe Haden tested positive for COVID-19 and likely will be sidelined for the first round of the playoffs, and tight end Eric Ebron and linebacker Cassius Marsh were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after being deemed close contacts.

■ Bills: Tight end Tyler Kroft tested positive for COVID-19 and likely will be sidelined for the first round of the playoffs.

Elaine Thompson The Associated Press DK Metcalf is 6 yards shy of breaking Steve Largent’s single-season Seahawks record of 1,287 yards receiving.