Two key players to the Seattle Seahawks‘ roster returned to practice this week in Kam Chancellor and Marshawn Lynch. Both have missed time recently, and are expected to return to action in the Seahawks’ first round playoff matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Chancellor has missed Seattle’s last three games and was a full participant in practice this week for the first time since his pelvis injury. Kelcie McCray stood in for Chancellor through his absence, and has been able to fill in adequately over the last three weeks. Even with McCray playing well, Chancellor’s presence will be a major boost if he is able to come back and be his normal self.
Lynch was also able to return and be a full participant for the Seahawks after missing the last seven games with an abdomen injury. He had surgery and has been rehabbing away from the Seahawk’s facilities for the last couple of months. Lynch’s presence could be a major boost for the Seattle backfield that has been plagued by the injury bug that has sidelined Lynch for some time and second string back Thomas Rawls for the remainder of the season. They have been getting decent production from Christine Michael since his return, but will need Lynch to step up and carry a decent load during the playoffs. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said that he expects Lynch to be full speed which would bode well for a Seahawks’ offense that has been able to excel even in Lynch’s absence.
Both Chancellor and Lynch’s return are big for Seattle, but the amount that they are able to produce will be the big question going into their game against the Vikings. Both have a lot of snaps under their belts, but have missed decent amounts of time recently.
Seattle also has questions on their offensive line with J.R. Sweezy and Russell Okung. Both missed Seattle’s matchup last week with a concussion and calf injury respectively. Sweezy and Okung were able to return as full participants in practice Thursday, and head coach Pete Carroll seemed confident that they would be ready to go if all goes well this week.
Cornerback Jeremy Lane (oblique) and defensive tackle Jordan Hill (toe) were both also listed as limited in practice Wednesday but returned as full participants on Thursday. Lane injured his oblique in their game last week, and would be a big piece for Seattle to have ready to go.
Tyler Lockett who was voted rookie of the week and special teams player of the month sat out practice on Wednesday with a hip injury and Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett sat out with a toe injury. Both were able to return as full participants Thursday.
The only member of the Seahawks on the injury report that did not participate in a full practice Thursday was their top option at tight end Luke Willson. Willson is still battling a concussion that kept him out last week, and although he was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, he did not participate on Thursday.
While Lynch, Chancellor and most of the guys who were limited in practice were absent in the Seahawks’ dominating victory over the Arizona Cardinals last weekend, they will need everybody back and as healthy as possible in order to put together a successful playoff run. The guys who stepped in for the injured players played great, and gave Seattle a huge boost and shot of confidence in their ability to step up in any situation, but the health of the guys that showed up on Seattle’s injury report will play a major factor in their success this postseason. It seems that if all goes well this week Seattle may have some major contributors back on the field.
