QB Russell Wilson had “by far his best week of work,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after practice Friday. Also in the starting lineup for Sunday’s home game against Atlanta is strongside LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, but questionable are two key defenders: DE Frank Clark (hamstring) and SS Kam Chancellor (groin).
Wilson “was very free moving, so we’re really excited for him,” Carroll said. “It’s been a long haul in a sense; he’s worked so hard to get back. He’s still doing his treatment stuff and there’s a few precautions going in, as far as what he’s wearing, wraps on his ankle.”
Chancellor has a “little groin aggravation” that developed Thursday. Carroll said: “We’re going to see what that means on game day.” Clark’s injury happened Monday, and Carroll said, “We’re still going to have to wait all the way up to game day on that one, too.”
Two others were listed as questionable, RB C.J. Prosise (wrist) and DT Garrison Smith (oblique). Carroll indicated that he will hold out Prosise one more week, but Smith would likely play.
If Chancellor can’t go, Kelcie McCray will start against the No. 1 offense in the NFL.
“Kelcie has done great stuff whenever he stepped in,” Carroll said. “He’s really been one of our leaders since the first day he got here on special teams. Whenever we give him a chance he’s done great. We’re very fortunate to have him.”
Carroll said the start for three-year vet Pierre-Louis, who steps in for Mike Morgan (sports hernia surgery last week) has been in the works.
“We’ve been kind of preparing for this if we needed,” he said. “He played his (Boston College) career out on the edge. He was a drop guy, and he was really good. That’s why we drafted him. He’s very comfortable out there.”
The Seahawks also will have the full services of WR Tyler Lockett (knee) and rookie DT Jarran Reed (hip). Rookie TE Nick Vannett (ankle) is also healthy enough to get back on the field for the first time.
Despite the Falcons’ four-game winning streak and 4-1 record, they are seven-point underdogs to the 3-1 Seahawks for the 1:25 p.m. start (Fox Ch. 13).