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Seahawks DT Al Woods suspended four games

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RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Al Woods has been suspended without pay for the team's next four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

The league announced the suspension Friday, four days after Seattle wide receiver Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL's policies on PEDs and substances of abuse.

The Seahawks will promote defensive tackle Bryan Mone from their practice squad to take Woods' spot on the roster, coach Pete Carroll said.

The timing of Woods' suspension means he'll miss the Seahawks' final two regular-season games and their first two playoff games should they play that many. If not, the suspension would carry over into next year's regular season.

The Seahawks, who have already secured a playoff berth, host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and then the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 in what could be a de facto NFC West championship game.

By winning both games, the Seahawks would be no worse than the NFC's No. 2 seed.

The Seahawks were already heading into Sunday's game with several injury-related personnel concerns before Woods was suspended.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core) and safety Quandre Diggs (high ankle sprain) are listed as doubtful, while three more starters are questionable: cornerback Shaquill Griffin (hamstring), linebacker Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) and left tackle Duane Brown (biceps/knee).

Linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle) "looks fine," Carroll said.

Woods had 32 tackles and a sack while playing in all 14 of Seattle's games, mostly on early downs. His five starts came while Jarran Reed was serving a six-game suspension to begin the season. Poona Ford has remained in the starting lineup since Reed returned, though Woods has still averaged more than 30 defensive snaps in the eight games since.

The 32-year-old Woods signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with Seattle last offseason.

Mone, an undrafted rookie from Michigan, made three tackles in the season opener and played 71 defensive snaps over the first three games.

"He's tough. He's physical. He's got a great motor for chasing the ball for such a big man," Carroll said of the 6-3, 345-pound Mone "... I think I had three highlights on yesterday from just his effort in practice, so that's kind of who he is. Players are fired up that he gets a chance to help us right now."

Clowney, Diggs and Brown were nonparticipants in all three practices this week. Clowney didn't play last week due to an illness that prevented him from even traveling with the team to Charlotte. He's over that, Carroll said, but is still dealing with the core-muscle injury that dates back to Week 10 and resulted in him missing the Seahawks' win over Philadelphia in Week 12.

"Yeah, some," Carroll said when asked if was concerning that Clowney still hasn't healed. "But if he can't make it back, he can't make it back. So we've just got to just keep waiting on it and see if we can take care of him and maybe the right combination of rest and all that will get it done."

Kendricks, who has missed the past two games, was limited Friday. Griffin, who missed the Carolina game, did not practice Friday. They will be game-time decisions, Carroll said.

Wagner, who sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter against Carolina, was listed as a full participant Friday. He had no game designation, meaning he's considered healthy enough to play. Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (neck) and tight end Luke Willson (hamstring) will also return Sunday, Carroll said.