The Seahawks were back on the practice field Wednesday to begin preparation for their Week 16 game in Tennessee, and they kicked off their practice week with quarterback Geno Smith a "full go," as Seahawks coach Pete Carroll put it.
That's a very positive development for Seattle's starting quarterback, who has missed the past two games with a groin injury, and while it doesn't guarantee Smith will be ready to start on Sunday, it's a sign he is trending in the right direction.
"Geno will come back to practice, he's going to practice today and go full go, and we'll see how that works," Carroll said. "That's exciting for us."
For Smith to play this week, Carroll said, "He's got to go through today and see how he is tomorrow, just do that like anybody else that's coming back, but we're really encouraged that he's going to be all right. We won't overtax him during the week either."
In other injury news, Carroll said rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who missed Monday's game with a hip pointer injury, is improving, but wasn't expected to practice Wednesday.
"We're going to take it one day at a time, we don't know yet," Carroll said. "He's much better, he's moving around better just getting around the building, but don't know what's going to happen during the week with him, so we'll just have to take it one day at a time."
Safety Jamal Adams, who was held out of last week's game due to the lingering knee issues that he's been dealing with all season since returning from last year's torn quadriceps tendon, is "still in recovery mode" Carroll said, and will not practice Wednesday.
"He's still in recovery mode," Carroll said. "He's been in recovery mode for months. But he just continues to do everything he can possibly do to try to get right and get back, and we've just seen that the rigors of the season, it has just been taxing and all. Every day is a day that we have to reevaluate and see if we can get him to the next day and all. He couldn't do more than he's done, he's been ferocious about the attack on this, and then there are times when we need to quiet him and try to get him active and try to get him right and all that. So we're still in that mode right now. I just talked to him a little bit ago, and today is not the day to go, he's not ready for this day. We're just one day at a time. I admire everything about how he's dealt with this and handled it. It's a difficult injury, it's different than knee surgery. It's a different case for him, so it's just taken a really long time, and it's been really frustrating for him. But he's battling, he's doing everything he can to compete to get right."
Asked about the possibility of Adams being shut down for the rest of the season to let his knee get healthy, Carroll said, "It's been something that we have acknowledged, that's a decision, but so far he's wanted to keep going and driving and see what he can make of it. I just support everything where he's coming from, in every way. So we'll take it one shot at a time, and we'll figure it out together."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 15. Eye on the Hawks is presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba arrives for the Monday Night Football contest with the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterback Geno Smith drops back during early warmups as head coach Pete Carroll playfully "blitzes."
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock throws a pass during early pregame.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner during early warmups.
Seahawks Legend Michael Bennett greets defensive lineman Myles Adams.
Captain Bobby Wagner receives the Seahawks Man of the Year award from team president Chuck Arnold and general manager John Schneider.
Seahawks captain Bobby Wagner speaks to the team in the locker room before kickoff.
As smoke swirls, Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock, named the starter in place of injured Geno Smith, prepares to lead the team out of the tunnel during pregame introductions.
Seahawks mascot "Blitz" prepares for pregame introductions.
Bobby Wagner is introduced to the Monday Night Football crowd at Lumen Field.
Seattle's Derick Hall celebrates a special teams hit early in the game.
Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams celebrates with teammates after a stop.
Seahawks safeties Quandre Diggs and Coby Bryant celebrate.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III breaks into open field.
Seahawks place kicker Jason Myers makes the first of his two field goals.
Seahawks safety Julian Love makes a special teams tackle.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson breaks up a pass along the sidelines.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III scores with the aid of a block by quarterback Drew Lock as tight end Colby Parkinson celebrates.
Seattle's Leonard Williams celebrates after a tackle.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett crosses the field for yards after the catch.
Seahawks safety Julian Love celebrates an interception in the end zone to thwart an Eagles scoring threat.
Seahawks fans light up Lumen Field during a break in the action.
The Seahawks defense swarms Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as Bobby Wagner makes the tackle.
On Seattle's final scoring drive, Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf splits two Eagles defenders for a key 34-yard catch.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba catches the game-winning touchdown on a 29-yard pass from Drew Lock.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock celebrates after throwing the game-winning touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock is congratulated on the sidelines after throwing the game winning touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Seahawks safety Julian Love clinches Seattle's victory with an interception to end the Eagles final drive.
Seahawks offensive lineman Raiqwon O'Neal joins the fans in celebration near the end of the victory.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba celebrates with fans after the victory.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock celebrates as he walks off the field after the win.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is fired up as he celebrates with his team in the victorious locker room.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith excitedly tells teammate Drew Lock that he's the man in the locker room after the win. At left is assistant quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith hugs and congratulates teammate Drew Lock after Lock led the Seahawks to a victory on Monday Night Football. At left is assistant quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph.
