Health continues to improve as the Seahawks fly to St. Louis for the Monday night game. MLB Bobby Wagner and WR Golden Tate practiced well enough to play against the Rams. Wagner’s quick recovery from a high ankle sprain at the end of the Oct. 13 game against Tennessee was a surprise.
“I don’t know how he did it,” coach Pete Carroll said after practice Saturday. “The trainers don’t know either. But they did a great job getting him back. He’s maybe two or three weeks ahead of what you would think would happen.”
Carroll said he was going to wait before declaring Wagner a starter: “We’ll determine that based on what happens, but I really think he has a chance to play. Let’s leave it at that for right now.”
Tate had shoulder soreness after the Arizona game but is a full go. The only players not ready are RT Breno Giacomini (knee), SS Jeron Johnson and FB Derrick Coleman, both with hamstring strains.
Also still out is WR Percy Harvin, who, after returning to practice this week, raised some hope that his surgically repaired hip might be ready for the MNF spotlight.
“He won’t be able to do it this quick,” Carroll said. “Next week we’ll start it up, and over the weekend, we’re back to day to day again. Just trying to bring him along. We’re really excited about getting this close to his return.
“We’re managing his rehabilitation and trying to do it really right. We worked him hard, and then we rested him, and we’ll continue to do that until his conditioning is caught up and he’s ready to go . . . next week (practice) is a little shorter, and that doesn’t help us.”
Updating the progress of the offensive line with RT Michael Bowie and LT Paul McQuistan as injury replacements, Carroll said, “The confidence is obvious. Michael feels much better about going out in the next game, and next game. Each time he gains a little bit. Our communication is still going to be challenged because of the identification stuff. It’s still hard for the young guy.
“McQuistan is doing fine on his end. But we’re just bringing Michael on. I think Michael has done very well, and we’re really pleased.”
The game will be the first since the return of FB Michael Robinson, who was cut just before the regular season began. He’ll start alongside RB Marshawn Lynch.
“We’re going to count on Mike to jump right in,” Carroll said. “He’s going to be right in the flow of the game and play like normal. We haven’t had to change anything. He’s picked up right where he left off. He looks good. He’s in good shape, he’s taking good care of himself.”
On the eve of a rare sports doubleheader, a MNF game going on in the same town at the same time as Game 5 of the World Series between the Cardinals and the Red Sox, Carroll was asked whether he could imagine QB Russell Wilson, who was drafted and played minor-league baseball, in a Super Bowl and a Series.
“Yeah I can picture him,” Carroll said, “but I think with the .198 he hit in his last year in the (minors), I don’t think he’s going to make it.
“I think it was the curve ball that he had an issue with, but if anybody can pull it off, Russell can do that.”