THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: All this talk about injuries is very painful

It was probably a cinch.

I’m thinking about injuries today.

Part of it, of course, has to do with the huge bandage contraption on my back from that “minor” procedure on Monday.

The doc took a stab (bad choice of words) at cheering me up by insisting I’ll see improvement on the golf course — even gaining 20 yards on my drives.

Liar.

Anyway, three other people also pushed injuries to the top of the menu today.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba tops the list, obviously, since it turns out he suffered a broken bone in his wrist in the exhibition against Dallas.

Smith-Njigba had surgery Tuesday, and — wait for this — the rookie wide receiver is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener on Sept. 10.

Wow.

The other two people on my mind, meanwhile, are Drew Lock and Dusty Baker.

Lock is here in The Cheap Seats for the second straight day for a reason that really puzzles me.

Just a mention of the Seahawks’ QB2 having to be taken out of last Saturday’s exhibition against Dallas — following a low and illegal hit by Sam Williams — moved plenty of you to get in touch.

These weren’t sympathy cards, however.

No, the general theme was questioning why I’d even pay any attention to a second-string stiff like Lock.

I’m baffled by that, gang.

WHY?

Well, no matter what you think of Lock, any NFL team with playoff hopes is going to take a hit if the No. 1 guy at any position goes down with a serious injury.

(See: Adams, Jamal.)

But if it’s your quarterback?

No offense to QB3 Holton Ahlers, but if Geno Smith came limping off with an ACL injury in the season opener against the Rams, the health and general well-being of Drew Lock would suddenly be very high on your list of concerns.

Now, we’re obviously hoping Geno stays upright and plays sensationally, but the NFL is a league of serious violence on every play.

Coaches worry incessantly about having quality depth for a good reason — because some of your first-unit guys WILL get hurt.

And a few of those injuries WILL be serious.

Bottom line: It’s a very big deal that Lock remains healthy.

There was another theme running through several of your emails about my “wasting time” writing about Lock getting whacked against Dallas.

It was the general opinion that if something happens to Geno Smith, the Hawks are toast — because Lock is awful, and he proved it with a terrible record in Denver.

I think you’re wrong about that.

Lock endured non-stop coach and coordinator changes with the Broncos, but he’s looked terrific as Smith’s backup.

Pete Carroll has said numerous times that Lock very well might have won the starting job a year ago if he hadn’t missed a lot of exhibition game snaps with the COVID-19 virus.

“Geno was already in our system so he had a head start, but Drew was outstanding in camp and all that,” Carroll said.

“It would have been real battle, but then Drew had to miss time. Obviously, Geno went on to have a great year, but that doesn’t take anything away from what we think of Drew.”

Yeah, maybe you can say Pete is just blowing smoke to pump up his No. 2, but there’s one way you KNOW Seattle is high on Lock.

He was signed for $4 million this season — which isn’t the type of money you give a backup who makes you nervous.

I ALSO mentioned Dusty Baker at the start of this column.

Now, Dusty is a popular figure in baseball, and he lets you think he’s just this lovable old guy who was just dozing in the dugout as the almighty Astros bashed their way to a World Series title.


Nonsense.

Dusty is no gentle curmudgeon, believe me.

He’s got a wicked competitive edge, which is one reason teams have kept hiring him.

And, by the way, Dusty is not the least bit hesitant to have his pitchers shave your chin (or hit your legs) and then act like a picture of innocence.

Was it a coincidence that Framber Valdez cranked a fastball off Jose Caballero’s shin — after Jose had been annoying the Astros (as he does to every opponent)?

Hah.

Meanwhile, once the Mariners had finished that series sweep, Dusty made it a point to mention that Seattle hadn’t played the Astros “with our whole team” this year.

Pretty snide, for a guy who pretends he needs a rocking chair.

Memo to Dusty Baker: The Mariners won those three in Houston without J.P. Crawford, the heart and soul of that club; without catcher Tom Murphy, who’s been leading players at his position in plenty of offensive categories; without outfielder Jarred Kelenic; and with starting pitchers Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales and Bryan Woo all on the IL.

Rookie starter Emerson Hancock had to leave the third game after two scoreless innings with a tight shoulder.

Oh, and you didn’t have to face Luis Castillo or George Kirby in that sweep, either.

Look, nobody’s weeping for you or your Astros, Dusty.

Just get on with it, eh?

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”