The Seahawks wrapped up a short week of practice on Wednesday as they get ready to host the 49ers on Thursday Night Football. It's a big ask of players to play just four days after their previous game, but Seahawks coach Pete Carroll likes what he saw from his team this week.
"This week happens really fast," Carroll said. "This is a big challenge for all the NFL teams to come back around Thursday night and play football. Our guys have worked really hard to do it. It's a big shift in the in the mode of how we get prepared, and we're trying to maximize recovery, so the guys are ready to go, and it seems like it's worked out well. We feel like we've got the plan in and we're ready to go. Tomorrow still counts, we've still got stuff to do, but we're in good shape right now."
The Seahawks have five players listed as questionable for Thursday's game—running back DeeJay Dallas (ankle), nose tackle Al Woods (Achilles), safety Ryan Neal (knee), safety Joey Blount (back) and cornerback Tre Brown (illness)—and given the nature of the short week, Carroll said all are true game-day decisions.
"We just have to use every minute that we have, so we're just waiting," Carroll said.
In some very positive injury news, running back Kenneth Walker III did not have a game status designation on the final injury report, meaning he's ready to play. Walker, who injured his ankle in a Week 13 win over the Rams, then missed Sunday's game against Carolina, was a full participant in practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
"He finished the week doing well, so we'll see what happens," Carroll said. "… He did really well. I was really pleased, and he looked really quick out here."
Regardless of who is and isn't available Thursday, Carroll knows his team needs to get back on a winning track if they're going to be a playoff team, and he wants to see that start on Thursday against the NFC West-leading 49ers.
"Each week is a great opportunity, and this one, these guys happen to be in first place and they're playing great," he said. "If you're going to have a good year, you have to win games like this. You have to win them. You have to find your way through the great challenges—there will be more on the schedule before we're done—but you have to match up and you've got to get your games. You've got to expect to play these guys well and you've got to go and perform and play well. And it just happens to be the 49ers this week, and they've got a great run going. What's been really impressive about that is they've done it with different guys, they've had some guys banged up and they've really been able to maintain their level of play and all that. This is a really good team, but this is what it takes, so it's a great matchup."
The Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers for Week 15 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at some of their previous matchups.