The Seahawks returned to Seattle early Monday morning, and among those returning with the team was defensive end Darrell Taylor, who the night before had left Heinz Field strapped to a stretcher.
As was the case after Sunday's game, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday morning on 710 ESPN Seattle that the initial reports were positive on Taylor's injury, though more tests are still coming.
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"He really did get a great report on his CT scan that he was clear and all of that," Carroll said. "He's got more tests to do just to double check and triple check and make sure he's OK—MRIs and stuff today—but the initial return is that he didn't have any major damage at all. He feels good, I talked to him just a few minutes ago; he's got a sore neck right now, he's got a stiff neck, but relative to what it looked like and what we were having to deal with, he really got a great turnaround, great news."
Because Taylor injured his neck, all precautions were taken even though he wanted to leave the field under his own power.
"He was so adamant about getting up and wanting to get off the ground—he did not want to get carted off," Carroll said. "He was just battling, and we were all loving him just trying to calm him down. That wasn't the time to compete in that manner, but that's what his nature told him to do. You've got to admire the heck out of him, he was tough as nails."
Asked if Taylor could play when the Seahawks host the New Orleans Saints in a week, Carroll said, "I don't know what to say about that. Give us a couple days here of tests and stuff, and we'll see what happens. I don't know."
On Alex Collins, who was unable to play in overtime due to hip and glute injuries, Carroll said "He got hit a couple times, he had a couple big hits that he took, but the reports we're getting—we'll see a couple of days from now. He got banged around, but he's not out of next week. We've got to see how he handles it."
With Chris Carson on injured reserve for at least two more games, the Seahawks will have reinforcements coming at running back this week with Rashaad Penny expected to return from IR.
"Rashaad Penny is back," Carroll said. "He'll be back full-speed, ready to roll on Tuesday when we get back out here."
Guard Damien Lewis also left the game with an injury, which Carroll said after the game was an AC sprain in his shoulder.
"He's got a sore shoulder," Carroll said. "He hurt his shoulder a little bit, and we'll have to wait and see. He's really tough, and he'll shrug it off if he can, but he's pretty sore today."
