Rayshawn Jenkins leaves Seahawks practice early with injury. DK Metcalf, Geno Smith star

The Seahawks have a new issue on their new defense.

Rayshawn Jenkins, their starting safety since the first offseason practices in May, left the field early in practice Wednesday. He limped off the field leaning on a medical staffer and favoring his lower left leg and did not return.

Seattle’s free-agent signee from Jacksonville this spring got hurt running to the sideline to react to a short pass from Geno Smith on the first play of 11-on-11, no-pads scrimmaging.

K’Von Wallace, the fifth-year veteran who talked earlier in the day about his role in three-safety alignments for new coach Mike Macdonald’s defense, replaced Jenkins and played with Pro Bowl safety Julian Love in base defense for the remainder of practice. Marquise Blair got some plays with the starting defense after Jenkins left.

There was no immediate word on the severity of Jenkins’ injury. Macdonald is next scheduled to talk to the media following practice Thursday.

The high-energy, always-yelling Wallace has been impressing Macdonald and the new defensive staff. Tuesday he ended the practice by leaving his man, an receiver headed up the field, and jumped a short route outside by wide receivevr Cody White. Wallace intercepted Sam Howell’s pass and ran free to the other goal line.

Satisified, Macdonald the defensive guru ended the practice.

“I kind of read the whole thing out. I saw the running back motion out, it was empty (in the backfield). Just trying to make a play,” Wallace said. “It was 15 seconds on the clock, we were up one, all they (the offense) had to do is make a field goal. I knew some kind of out concept was going to come. I just trusted my instincts and played with it.”

Wallace explained that risk-taking is how he plays safety close to the line of scrimmage.

“My eyes are on the quarterback the whole time. I didn’t even look at my man,” he said. “I knew it was coming, I knew it was going to happen, and I just was hoping to make the play when it came.”

Wednesday the defensive secondary was also without Tre Brown. He has been starting at left cornerback when Witherspoon is inside at nickel — which is the majority of the time. Michael Jackson was the starting cornerback with Riq Woolen when Witherspoon was at nickel Wednesday.

Woolen is moving a lot in this training camp between the right and left cornerback spots. That’s new, per Macdonald’s new schemes.

The Seahawks’ final preseason game is Saturday against the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Field (7 p.m., KING-5 television).

DK Metcalf, Geno Smith star

Seattle’s top wide receiver is connecting with the starting quarterback in regular-season form, 2 1/2 weeks before the season opener Sept. 8 against Denver.

With Tyler Lockett again missing practice with a leg issue, DK Metcalf starred Wednesday. Metcalf drifted away from coverage in the back of the end zone during a red-zone scrimmage. Then he leaned away from two defenders, stretched his 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame and long arms and snagged Smith’s pass while keeping both feet inbounds for a touchdown.

On the next play, Metcalf got behind 6-foot, Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the back right of the end zone. Smith’s throw was perfect, high and away from Witherspoon to where only Metcalf could reach it. He leaped and did, for another TD.

Lockett has missed the last week, including both joint practices against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville last week.

His absence has meant third-year man Dareke Young has been the third wide receiver with Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the starting offense.

Connor Williams’ work increases

New starting center completed his third practice with the Seahawks. It was his most work yet.

Eight months past a torn anterior cruciate ligament and reconstructive knee surgery, Williams again was the starting center for the initial periods of scrimmaging. He played the majority of snaps, unlike Monday and Tuesday when Olu Oluwatimi replaced him about midway through the practices.

After practice Williams again got extra tutoring from Seahawks offensive line coach Scott Huff. Coordinator and play caller Ryan Grubb joined them post-practice this time.

Williams, 27, has started six years in the NFL. The last two have been as the Miami Dolphins’ starting center, until his injury in December. Two weeks ago he signed a one-year contract with Seattle with $3 million guaranteed.

Offensive line du jour

The starting offensive line was Charles Cross again at left tackle, rookie Christian Haynes for apparently resting veteran Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Williams, Anthony Bradford at right guard and Stone Forsythe at right tackle.

That may be the lineup that starts the preseason finale Saturday. Expect Geno Smith to play at least a series or two, and if the starting quarterback plays the starting offensive line will to protect him.

While the offensive starters seem destined to play Saturday, the defensive starters may not. They’ve already played this preseason: two series to begin the preseason opener at the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago. They allowed 7 yards on six plays and forced consecutive three-and-out drives.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters in Ohio this week that Browns starters are likely to play in Seattle.

Seahawks right tackle George Fant came out late in gym clothes to watch the end of practice.

Tomlinson was wearing a cap and tennis shoes watching most of practice.

Starting right tackle Abe Lucas remains out indefinitely. He hasn’t practiced since January following knee surgery this past winter. Asked Monday about Lucas’ status Macdonald said “Right now, I probably don’t want to answer that question.”

Extra points

*Outside Denver, coach Sean Payton announced rookie first-round pick Bo Nix from Oregon and Auburn will start for the Broncos in the season opener against the Seahawks Sept. 8 at Lumen Field.

*Starting weakside linebacker Jerome Baker did position and group drills but did not scrimmage, for the second time in three days. He missed more than a week with an injured hamstring. Macdonald has said the team expects Baker to start the opener.

*Tyrel Dodson, the other starting inside linebacker and Macdonald’s defensive signal caller, intercepted Smith on a pass over the middle that went of Smith-Njigba’s hands.

*With top two tight ends Noah Fant (undetermined issue) and Pharaoh Brown (foot) still out, special-teams mainstay Brady Russell continues as the number-one tight end. Undrafted rookie tight end Jack Westover from the University of Washington also remained out (hamstring).