A week after telling reporters that some starters, including Russell Wilson, would be held out of the preseason opener, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll did a little self-scouting of his press conference performance and came away disappointed with what he saw.
"Judging from the interview we did the last time the day before the game, this one's going to be different," Carroll said. "I thought I had a really bad performance on that one. So be prepared to hear nothing about who's playing. I gave you way too much last time."
Later, when asked about the team's approach to Sunday's game against the Vikings in terms of playing time, Carroll said, "Have to wait and see, let's get to game time."
But while Carroll didn't give any details on the plans for playing the starters, he did give injury updates on a number of players:
LB Bobby Wagner
Wagner, who had a procedure done earlier in camp, was in pads Friday and did limited work, his first on-field action since early August.
"Everything went great," Carroll said. "He feels really good and he's anxious to get back going. It's great to have him back on the field with us."
Asked if Wagner needed to play in the preseason, Carroll said, "It would be good for Bobby to get a chance to get on the field. We'll see if we get a chance to get that done. It kind of depends on how the practices go and how his work goes. He would be better off to play some, just to get going, just to get a feel, but other than that, he's a master of what we're doing. He'll play well and play smart and sharp regardless, because he's been involved with all of the mental side of the stuff. It would leave him maybe a little more rusty starting off, but it won't take him long."
QB Geno Smith
Smith, who had a cyst removed from his knee after last week's preseason opener, practiced Friday, but Carroll said they don't know yet if he'll be able to play in Sunday's game.
"Geno did get back on the practice field today," Carroll said. "This is a remarkable recovery already just to get back on the field today. We'll see, we've got to do it one day at a time and see where he is."
DE Ziggy Ansah
While the strength in Ansah's surgically repaired shoulder is back, Carroll said, the free-agent addition did sustain a minor groin injury in his rehab work earlier in the week.
"We're just waiting on—he had a minor groin pull that he got in workouts about five days ago," Carroll said. "It's going to take him a bit, it's not a major injury at all. We're really thrilled that his strength is back, he's made it back to full strength in terms of his rehab for his shoulder, so we're just waiting on his groin right now."
Asked if the groin injury could put Ansah's Week 1 availability in jeopardy, Carroll said, "I don't think so. He's got plenty of time to get back from this. It's not a serious injury at all, it's just something that's going to nag him for a little bit."
G Mike Iupati
Iupati has been out since early in camp with a foot injury, and Carroll said earlier this week that the hope was that the veteran would be back in a week or so. Since then, however, Iupati sustained a calf injury.
"He just had an unfortunate calf thing that came back in his workouts the other day, so we're going to get through that," Carroll said.
TE Will Dissly
Dissly, who ruptured his patellar tendon in Week 4 last year, has been practicing throughout camp, but when he'll return to game action remains to be seen. Whether he plays Sunday or not, the Seahawks are happy with his progress and with what he has shown in camp.
"I think it's important for Will (to play in the preseason), being a young player and all that, just to get going again," Carroll said. "He doesn't have that many games behind him, so it would be helpful… He's practicing and doing everything, so he's fully back as far as we're concerned, so we'll see what happens on the weekend."
G Phil Haynes
Haynes, a fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest, has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of camp after having surgery on a sports hernia during the offseason.
"I don't think he's going to make it back for (preseason games)," Carroll said. "That first week is about the right time where he could step a little bit closer to it. We'll see, it's kind of a race against time. I hope he would be able to, but we've just got to take care of him, I don't know that for sure yet."
LB Shaquem Griffin
Griffin bruised his knee in last week's preseason game, causing him to be held out of practice earlier this week. He returned to the field Thursday, but was not practicing Friday.
"He had a bruised knee that happened in the game," Carroll said. "He got back to practice, then it kind of flared up a little bit again, so we chilled him out today. I don't know what that means for the ballgame."
G Jordan Simmons
"He had his knee worked on, and he's in recovery mode, rehab," Carroll said.
RB Bo Scarbrough
Scarbrough left last week's game early with a hand injury, but was back to practice earlier in the week without missing time. He has been out the past two days, however, due a groin injury, putting his status for Sunday in question.
"Bo hurt his hand, then he did a little groin thing that he got, so we don't know if he's going to be ready for the game or not," Carroll said.
DE L.J. Collier
Collier, Seattle's first-round pick in this year's draft, continues to recover from the ankle injury he sustained early in camp.
"He's feeling good, he's moving around a lot, he's getting closer," Carroll said. "He's making really good progress. I don't know what the timeline will be there, but he's pushing it now, so that's good to know."
S Lano Hill
Hill, who ended last year on injured reserve due to a hip injury, started practicing fully earlier this week, and "does have a chance to play" on Sunday, Carroll said. "But he's one of those guys we'll have to figure out."
DT Demarcus Christmas
Christmas remains out with a back injury, but Carroll said the rookie out of Florida State is making progress: "He has made good progress. He's had a couple of treatments, the second one kicked in a little bit and has helped him, but he's not back on the field yet."
T George Fant
Fant left last week's game with what Carroll called a "legit" ankle sprain.
"Nothing new for George," Carroll said. "He's doing fine, but it's going to take us another week or so before we know how fast his ankle is going to respond."
