Former Bellevue High School star Stephen Schilling, a guard for most of his first three NFL seasons in San Diego, will likely make his first career start at center for the Seahawks Sunday at the Clink against the Dallas Cowboys, barring a “miraculous recovery” by Max Unger, coach Pete Carroll said Friday.
Carroll wasn’t sure if Unger, who strained a foot Monday in the fourth quarter at Washington and missed three plays before returning, will be out beyond Sunday.
“We don’t know that; they’re talking day to day right now,” he said. “So I’m sure it’ll continue throughout the week if we don’t get him back.”
Unger runs the show on the O-line, and Schilling, 25, has received relatively few reps. A 6-foot-5, 312-pounder who starred at Michigan before being drafted in the sixth round in 2011, Schilling was signed March 20 as a free agent to provide depth. He began taking work at center in his final season with the Chargers.
The move suddenly became important after Lemuel Jeanpierre, the backup for Unger the previous two seasons, was given an injury settlement and waived after he went on injured reserve Sept. 3 with a neck problem.
QB Russell Wilson expressed no concern.
I’m definitely comfortable with Schilling,” he said. “He’s definitely done a great job all preseason and the first few games in terms of getting reps with him.
“He stepped up the other night in a big moment. We were down there in the red zone at the five-yard line and makes some big plays for us. He will do a great job.”
SS Kam Chancellor apparently strained a hip muscle against Washington and was listed as questionable.
“We’ll run him on game day and see how he feels and see if he can go,” said Carroll, who explained that the strain was not on the hip that was surgically repaired on the offseason.
Percy Harvin made the daily injury report Thursday, but apparently is recovering from a thigh injury.
“He looked good today,” Carroll said. “I think he’s probable for right now but he looked very good today.”
1 Comment
I wish they had someone they could elevate off the practice squad. A quick peek at it shows only two offensive linemen on it, both guards. Considering the issues that had last year I’d think they’d have twice that.