The Seahawks defensive line short-handed, with starting defensive end Shelby Harris a surprise scratch due to illness. 

Then the Seahawks suffered a second blow up front when nose tackle Al Woods left the game with a second-quarter heel injury. The absence of that duo was a factor for Seattle's defense, which gave up 223 rushing yards in a 30-24 loss to the Panthers, including 145 in the second half. 

"Shelby just came in sick as a dog this morning, he got IV'd and they did everything they could for him, they couldn't turn him around," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Shelby's a big part of our play up front, and Al going out in the second quarter, those are two heavy dudes up front that really we were relying on. We had moved Al to get some extra play out of him at the end spot, and overall in general—I think they had 60 yards at halftime or something like that—things were somewhat in control, but Al couldn't come back for the second half, and not having Shel, that made a difference." 

The Seahawks were without running backs Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas, both of whom were listed as questionable for the game with ankle injury. It's not yet known if either or both will be able to get back for Thursday's game against the Panthers.

"As it turned out, neither one of them could make it," Carroll said. "DeeJay—a high ankle sprain is hard to turn it around. He was really hopeful and optimistic and all of that, and trying to bounce around during the week, but when it got down to it—often, high ankles feel OK, until you really have to call out to push and it's not there, that's kind of what happened. Ken's dealing with an old injury that jumped back. He's been through it before in years past, and we just have to get him through and see if he can play Thursday night. I don't know. We'll take it one week at a time, one day at a time."