The Seahawks returned to work after their bye week with a "Bonus Monday" practice, and as Pete Carroll said would be the case last week, they'll be adding reinforcements in the coming weeks as players return from injuries.
On Monday, cornerback D.J. Reed and tight end Colby Parkinson both returned to practice after spending the first six weeks of the season on the non-football injury list. Reed, who the Seahawks claimed off of waivers from San Francisco, posted on social media last week that he was going to return this week, and earlier in the month Carroll said Reed was on track to return soon, so this was expected.
"He's played free safety, corner and nickel," Carroll said of Reed. "We're going to utilize that background to figure out where it fits best for us, so we took a look at him at a couple spots today. We'll just wait and see."
"I took a good look at him watching him on the field today for the first time," Carroll said. "Early in practice, he caught a flat route for gain of 2 and turned up and ran in the endzone just because he wanted to do so fired up to run, and all the tight ends went down to go meet him in the end zone and just jump all around him and have some fun with them. So we're all looking forward to him being back out there. He's benefited enormously from the offseason program that he's been in. He looks stronger, he's more fit, he's just pumped up. He's over 6-7, so he looks huge out there. He had a good first day, he had a really good first day. We'll just see what happens, see where it fits into the mix as we go. He's a really smart kid, he's been studying like crazy and I don't think it'll take him long to know his assignments and all that, but technique-wise and technically he's going to have to show that he's come a long ways before we can figure that he can help us or not. But a real positive sign for today, and he was really excited. I came off the field with him and he was just cloud nine to be back out playing football with his buddies, so a pretty good day."
Reed, a 2018 fifth-round pick, was waived by San Francisco in August with a non-football injury designation, the result of a torn pectoral muscle that occurred in an offseason workout. Had Reed gone unclaimed on waivers, he would have reverted to the 49ers' injured reserve list, but the Seahawks instead claimed the 5-foot-9, 193-pound cornerback who appeared in 31 games over the past two seasons.
Reed, who in two seasons recorded 54 tackles, two passes defensed, one sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown, also has experience as a returner, including a 90-yard kick return as a rookie. Reed earned first-team All-Big-12 honors in his final year at Kansas State as both a defensive back and return specialist.
The Seahawks do not immediately have to make corresponding roster moves for Reed and Parkinson to return to practice, but they would have to do so before adding them to the 53-man roster. They can practice for up to three weeks without being added to the roster, at which point the Seahawks would have to either add them to the roster or lose them for the season.
Rookie defensive end Darrell Taylor, a second-round pick out of Tennessee, remains on the NFI list, and running back Rashaad Penny is still on the physically unable to perform list.
On those two returning, Carroll said, "It's not clear yet. They're still on a good arc here to get them back, and we've waited this long, we're going to make sure that these guys come back and then there's no question about the return."
Asked later specifically about Taylor and if he could possibly miss the entire season, Carroll said, "I've watched him run, I was out there with him a couple times this week; he looks like he's running hard and fast and pushing it. He's really strong right now. Anything can happen from this point forward, but he's working really hard. The docs are taking really good care of him and making sure we don't force the issue too soon, but just judging from what I'm seeing, he looks like he's made great progress. It's not like he's waiting to start getting in shape and all that, he's fit and strong—he hasn't done as much change of direction stuff that's really hard on him at this point—but he's really running hard and it looks good."
The Seahawks also have two players eligible to return from injured reserve, receiver Phillip Dorsett II (foot) and defensive end Rasheem Green (stinger). Asked about those two, Carroll said, "Phillip was really excited about how hard he was able to go today. Rasheem is getting really close too. He's finishing up just getting all his strength evened out and balanced up, and he's running and working out hard. He's in good shape right now, so he's not far away either."
As for other injuries, here's what Carroll had to say about players currently on the 53-man roster trying to get back from injuries. Carroll also gave an update on veteran defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who was signed to the practice squad before the bye.
Jamal Adams
Carroll expressed optimism before the bye that Adams, who has missed the past two games with a groin injury, would be back this week, and while that's still very much in play, Carroll said no decision has yet been made on the All-Pro safety's availability this week.
"We've got to get through the week and see what happens, give him these days and then figure it out," Carroll said. "Take full advantage of the time and make sure that we're doing the right thing and taking care of him and looking after him. It's a long season, and we'd love to have him back as soon as we get them, but we want him back when he's right and back for the long haul."
Lano Hill
Hill has missed the past three games with a back injury, and Carroll said the injury hasn't been improving, indicating he likely will be out this week and perhaps beyond.
"Lano's got some issues with his back that haven't really turned in the right direction," Carroll said. "We're looking after him right now. He's not ready to come back yet."
Carlos Hyde
Despite being able to practice, Hyde has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, and while he's improving, his status is still uncertain for this week.
"He's much improved," Carroll said. "I talked to him today on the way out, he feels good. We're just trying to get to the end of this week and see if he can come out and play football for us. He's really close, and like I've been telling you, he's ready physically running around and all that, it's just whether it's time to pound on him or not. So we'll see, I can't tell you that 'til we really get past Friday. Thursday will be a big day for him."
Damon Harrison
Harrison, a nine-year veteran and former first-team All-Pro, signed to Seattle's practice squad in Week 5 to give him time to get into football shape. A light week of practice meant he wasn't able to get game ready for Seattle's last game against Minnesota, and while this week will give Harrison more time to prepare, Carroll said no decision has been made as of now.
"I'd like to really hold off on that one until we get through this week, because this will be the first week where he can really go," Carroll said. "He's got a new number and all that, looks good, looks svelte. So I'm excited just to get him out and get him in the mix. We really haven't had a great look—we'll have a good padded practice this week that'll help, and we'll see how he's doing. But I'm excited, he's a great guy and I hope that he can help us out and be part of it."
